New Legislation
From 31 October 2023, applications to vote by post will require you to provide your national insurance number in order to verify your identity.
Additionally, under new rules, applications now need to be renewed every 3 years. If you originally held a postal vote before 30 January 2024 you will need to renew it before 31 January 2026. If you do not renew it by this date, it will be cancelled. You can, however, still apply again any time after this date.
Over the next few months, we will start writing out to those that are affected by this, starting with emails and then sending out letters to those we do not hold an email address for. If we currently hold your email address on our system, you will receive an email detailing what steps you need to take to renew. As we use Gov Notify, the emails will be sent from this address wealden.district.council.elections.department@notifications.service.gov.uk
You can reapply for your postal vote online here. This will help us to reduce costs and means we don’t have to send you a form in the post.
Reapplying now will also make sure the signature we have for you is up to date for future elections. Updating your signature now also reduces the risk of your postal vote being rejected due to your signature failing to match our records.
Paper forms can also be downloaded here from the Electoral Commission website or you can call Wealden District Council on 01892 602417 during office hours, to request one.
How does it work?
Voting by post is a quick, easy and secure alternative to voting at a polling station. Anyone who is registered to vote can apply for a postal vote, you do not need a reason to vote by post.
When applying to vote by post, you must provide us with your date of birth, signature and national insurance number. Your date of birth and signature are checked and matched against the completed postal vote statement at an election to keep your vote secure.
In order to avoid your application being rejected, please ensure you complete all sections of the application form.
Once registered to vote by post, you will receive a postal vote pack containing your ballot papers(s) for the next election. You will receive your postal vote pack around a week before polling day for an election. Once you receive your pack, you simply mark the ballot papers(s), complete the postal vote statement (ensuring your signature and date of birth match your original application) and return it to us in the pre-paid envelope provided.
Here are some things to bear in mind if you decide to vote by post:
- A postal vote can be sent to your home address or any other address you choose
- Postal votes are usually sent about a week before polling day
- Postal votes can be sent to other countries, but you need to consider if there would be time for you to receive and return your ballot paper by polling day
- If you have been sent a postal vote, you cannot vote in person at a polling station
- Postal votes have to be received by your local council or polling station before polling stations close on the day of the election
How to apply
To complete an application to vote by post, please visit the secure online government portal.
You will be required to provide your national insurance number, as well as submitting a photograph of your signature. Please ensure the photograph of your signature is on plain, white paper and that the photograph is clear and light.
If you are unable to submit an application on the secure online government portal, you can either:
- Download, print and complete a postal vote application form (PDF)
- Email the Electoral Services team to request a paper application form.
Return your completed paper form to us either:
As a scanned attachment to an email to elections@wealden.gov.uk. Please ensure that the image is of good quality and your signature is clear. Attachments should be sent in an acceptable file format (PDF, JPEG).
or post it to us at Electoral Services, Wealden District Council, Vicarage Lane, Hailsham, BN27 2AX
Please note that you must print the form and provide your physical (“wet”) signature using a black pen within the grey box in part 4 of the application before you return your form.
The deadline for making an application for a postal vote for an election is 5pm, 11 working days before polling day.
If you have any questions regarding completing the postal vote application form or voting by post, please email the Electoral Services team.