Renew your postal vote

If you applied for a permanent postal vote before 31 October 2023, your vote will expire on 31 January 2026. To continue voting by post, you must re-apply.

Why you need to re-apply

Due to changes introduced by the Elections Act 2022, all postal votes now:

  • are valid for a maximum of 3 years
  • require re-application with updated identity verification

This helps keep the electoral register secure and up to date.

Key dates

  • Deadline to re-apply: 31 January 2026
  • Paper forms sent: August 2025 (if you haven’t re-applied online or provided an email)
  • Final reminder: February 2026 (if no application received)

How to re-apply

The quickest and easiest way is to apply online:

Apply for a postal vote

You’ll need:

  • full name and address
  • date of birth
  • national insurance number
  • signature

Your identity will be checked against records held by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

How we’ll contact you

We may contact you via:

All messages will be genuine and secure.

Returning your postal vote

  • Use the freepost envelope via Royal Mail – no extra forms needed
  • If handing in at City Hall or a polling station, you must complete a Postal Vote Return (PVR) Form 2
  • you can hand in your own vote plus up to five others, unless you're a candidate or campaigner

Need help?

If you no longer wish to vote by post or need assistance:

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