Voting by post

If you know that you won’t be able to get to the polling station on polling day, you can vote by post.

You can apply for a postal vote if you’re away on holiday or because your work schedule means you can't get to polling station. You can also choose to vote by post simply because it would be more convenient for you.

You can apply to vote by post for a particular election, for a set time or a maximum of up to three years.

Applying for a postal vote

The deadline for your postal vote application to be received by Electoral Services is 5pm, 11 working days before an election. You are strongly advised to submit your application early. Don't wait until the election date is known.

All applications – both online and paper – will require an identity check as part of the application process. If your identity cannot be verified against the Department for Work & Pensions' records, then the Electoral Services office will request some documentary evidence to prove your identity.

Apply to Vote by Post

If you cannot apply online or do not have access to a printer, you can contact Electoral Services and they will send you a postal vote application form

Paper postal vote application forms should be returned to Electoral Registration Officer, Charnwood Borough Council, Southfield Road, Loughborough, LE11 2TR or send a scanned copy of the completed form to Electoral Services.

How to check if you have a postal vote

If you wish to know whether you have a postal vote, please contact Electoral Services and they can confirm whether you have a postal vote set up.

How to cancel your postal vote

If you wish to cancel your postal vote, you will need to send a signed letter to Electoral Services requesting that they cancel your postal vote.

Alternatively, please contact Electoral Services who can send you a postal vote cancellation form. 

The deadline for your postal vote cancellation form to be received by Electoral Services is 5pm, 11 working days before an election.

Returning your postal vote pack

Ballot papers and accompanying postal voting statement are usually sent out in a postal vote pack about two weeks before the day of an election. Once you’ve completed the forms by following the instructions in your postal vote pack, you then need to return these to us by 10pm on the day of the election, using one of the following options:

By post

You can return your postal pack by post via Royal Mail in the pre-paid envelope provided. Please allow plenty of time for posting to ensure that your postal vote arrive in good time.

In person

You can hand in your postal pack to a polling station in the ward or division or constituency of the election. The law has changed and you will now have to complete a form in order to hand in a postal pack. If you do not complete the form, then your postal vote will be rejected. Rejected postal packs will not be counted.

You can hand in your postal pack personally to an authorised officer at Charnwood Borough Council, Southfield Road, Loughborough, LE11 2TX. The law has changed and you will now have to complete a form in order to hand in a postal pack. If you do not complete the form, then your postal vote will be rejected. Rejected postal packs will not be counted.

Frequently asked questions

Why have the rules around postal vote handling changed?

The Elections Act 2022 makes several changes to the existing electoral law, including restricting the handling of postal votes, including limiting the number of postal votes an individual can hand in at a polling station or the Council Offices.

Can I still hand in other people’s postal votes to the polling station or Council Offices?

If you are a political campaigner then you will not be able to handle other people’s postal votes, except where the postal vote is your own, or a close family member, or someone that you provide regular care for.

If you are not a political campaigner, then you will be able to hand in other people’s postal votes. There will be a limit on the number of postal votes that a person can hand in at a polling station or the Council Offices – you will not be able to hand in more than five postal ballot packs for other electors plus your own, per poll.

I want to hand in my postal vote to the polling station – what has changed?

You can hand in up to 5 postal votes, plus your own, at the polling station.  When you arrive at the polling station and state that you are there to hand in a postal vote, the polling station staff will provide you with a form. You must complete the form, otherwise your postal vote will not be accepted. The form will ask for your name, address and the reason for handing in other people’s postal votes (where appropriate). You will also need to complete a declaration that you are not handing in more than the permitted number, and that you are not a political campaigner. If the form is not completed with all the required information, or to the Presiding Officer’s satisfaction, the postal vote will be rejected. Rejected postal votes will not be included in the count.

I want to hand in my postal vote to the Council Offices– what has changed?

You can hand in up to 5 postal votes, plus your own, at the Council Offices.  When you arrive at the Council Offices, you must not hand your postal vote to security or a member of staff at Reception. Instead, you must state that you are at the Council Offices to hand in a postal vote. You will then be greeted by an authorised officer who will provide you with a form. You must complete the form, otherwise your postal vote will be rejected. The form will ask for your name, address and the reason for handing in other people’s postal votes (where appropriate). You will also need to complete a declaration that you are not handing in more than the permitted number, and that you are not a political campaigner. If the form is not completed with all the required information, or to the authorised officer’s satisfaction, the postal vote will be rejected. Rejected postal votes will not be included in the count.

Can I still post my postal vote into the Council Offices letterbox?

You will not be able to post your postal vote into the Council Offices letterbox as you will not have completed the required form. The only method of delivering your postal vote without completing the required form is to post it into a Royal Mail post box. Otherwise, the form will need to be completed. There will be a sign on the Council Offices letterbox to remind residents of the new requirements. If a postal vote is posted into the Council Offices letterbox then it will be rejected. Rejected postal votes will not be included in the count.

Will I be told if my postal vote has been rejected?

After the election, the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) will write to electors who have had their postal votes rejected, telling them why.

I do not want to complete a form when I hand in my postal vote, what options do I have?

If you do not wish to complete a form when you hand in your postal vote then you should post it via a Royal Mail post box using the pre-paid envelope provided. Please allow plenty of time for posting to ensure that your postal vote arrive in good time.

Alternatively, you can cancel your postal vote. If you wish to cancel your postal vote, you will need to send a signed letter to Electoral Services requesting that they cancel your postal vote.

Alternatively, please contact Electoral Services who can send you a postal vote cancellation form.

The deadline for your postal vote cancellation form to be received by Electoral Services is 5pm, 11 working days before an election.

For more information about voting by post, please visit The Electoral Commission.