From November 2023, the law changed for postal voting in England.
Changes apply to:
- UK Parliamentary elections, including by-elections and recall petitions
- Local elections
- Police and Crime Commissioner elections
The changes brought about by new legislation are:
- You can now apply online to vote by post, you can do this by clicking here
- If you apply for a postal vote, you will need to prove your identity as part of the application process
- Successful applications to vote by post will be in place for a maximum of three years, electors will have to reapply to keep voting by post and will be contacted several months before an expiry date is due.
From 2 May 2024, there will be restrictions on the handing in of postal votes:
- A new criminal offence to stop political parties and campaigners handling certain completed postal voting packs
- Voters should make every attempt to post their voting pack in a Royal Mail post box or post office in good time for it to be received before 10pm on polling day
- Voters will not be allowed to hand in more than five postal voting packs (in addition to their own) at a polling station or a council office per election that is taking place
- A declaration form will need to be completed by the person handing in any postal voting packs to ensure they meet the new requirements
- The declaration form must be completed in full otherwise the postal voting packs being hand delivered could all be rejected
- If postal voting packs are handed in without a declaration form being completed they will be classed as "left behind" and rejected