Apply for a postal vote

If you cannot get to your polling station on election day, you can apply to vote by post. Your ballot paper will be sent to you shortly before an election.

You can have your postal vote sent to:

  • your home address
  • another address in the UK
  • an overseas address

If you choose a different address, make sure there is enough time to receive and return your ballot paper before election day.

You can apply online:

When you apply, you must prove your identity using your National Insurance number.

These rules apply to:

  • UK Parliament elections
  • by-elections
  • recall petitions
  • local elections
  • Police and Crime Commissioner elections

Reapply for your postal vote

Under the Elections Act 2022, postal vote applications are only valid for 3 years. You must reapply before your postal vote expires. All applications require identity verification.

Complete your postal vote

When you receive your postal voting pack:

  1. Mark your vote on the ballot paper.
  2. Complete the postal voting statement with your date of birth and signature.
  3. Make sure these details match the information on your application. If they do not match, your postal vote may be rejected.
  4. Put the ballot paper and postal voting statement into the correct envelopes. Follow the instructions provided in the pack.
  5. Return your postal vote so it arrives by 10pm on election day.

Postal votes received after 10pm on election day cannot be counted.

For more information, visit the Electoral Commission:

Return your postal vote

You can return your completed postal vote by:

  • posting it in a Royal Mail post box
  • handing it in at the Town Hall reception, Leamington Spa
  • handing it in at a polling station within the same constituency on election day

Your postal vote must arrive by 10pm on election day.

Town Hall address

The Town Hall
Parade
Leamington Spa
Warwickshire
CV32 4AT

The Town Hall reception will be open until 10pm on polling day.

If you hand in your postal vote at the Town Hall or a polling station, you must complete a declaration form under the Elections Act 2022.

Postal vote handling rules

The Elections Act 2022 introduced rules about who can handle postal votes.

Campaigners and political parties must not handle completed postal votes or postal vote envelopes. This is a criminal offence.

You can hand in:

  • your own postal vote
  • postal votes on behalf of a family member
  • postal votes on behalf of someone you care for

You cannot hand in more than 5 postal ballot packs, in addition to your own.

Postal voting FAQs

For answers to common questions about postal voting, visit:

The Electoral Commission: Voting by post video

Last updated

July 2026

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