Elections - postal votes
Summary
Postal
voting is a facility for people who cannot attend a polling station on election day or who feel that to vote by post would
be more convenient.
Printable forms
Further information
If you wish to vote by post, an application to vote by post is available to download from this page. The form contains a separate sheet of guidance notes, to help you complete your application.
Please note that your form must be printed in accordance with our printing guidelines, as your signature and date of birth will be read electronically and the boxes must therefore be in a specific place on the page.
The guidelines are available to download as a PDF from this page, and brief instructions for printing are given below.
Printing your form
- The form must be printed on White A4 paper.
- The form must not be photocopied as this distorts the original and will make it unreadable by our software.
- The form must be single sided – i.e. there must be nothing printed on the reverse of the form – The guidance notes for each form must be a separate document to the form.
- When printed,the margins and size of the form itself must not alter– no “fit to paper” or “shrink large pages” (Please see page 2 of the guidance notes available from this page, to see an example).
- The location of the date of birth and signature boxes must not be altered
- If you cannot print to the above specifications, please contact Electoral Services on the number below and a form will be posted to you.
Who can apply for a postal vote and how long will my application be valid for?
Anyone aged 18 or over can apply for a postal vote. You do not need a reason to vote by post. You can apply to vote by post for a particular election, for a set period of time or for all future elections.
Why do I need to give my date of birth and signature when applying?
New regulations which came into force on 1st January 2007 require all persons applying for a postal vote to provide their date of birth, and signature on their application form, and again when they use their postal vote. This information is needed to tackle fraud.
What if I am unable to sign?
If you are unable to sign, because of a disability, illness, you are unable to read or write or are unable to sign in a consistent or distinctive manner, you are entitled to apply for a waiver.
A postal vote application form, combined with a signature waiver request can be downloaded from this page (above printing instructions apply), or can be requested by contacting our Helpline on the number below.
Where can I get my postal vote sent?
A postal vote can be sent to the address where you appear on the register, or to any other address that you give. If you ask for your postal vote to be sent to an address other than your registered address, you must give a reason why. Postal votes can be sent overseas, but you need to consider whether there will be enough time to receive and return your ballot paper by election day.
Is there a deadline for returning my application?
Yes, in order for your postal vote application to be effective for an election, it must be received by the Returning Officer at the address below at least 11 working days before the election.
When will I receive my ballot papers?
Postal votes are usually sent out about a week before election day but depending on the election timetable it could be as little as four working days before election day.
Completing your postal ballot pack
When you get your postal vote you should do the following:-
- Mark your vote on the ballot paper
- Enter your date of birth and signature on the security statement
- Seal your ballot paper in envelope A.
- Place sealed envelope A and the declaration of identity in envelope B, then seal it.
- Make sure you send back your postal vote so it arrives by election day. If it arrives after voting closes, it will not be counted. A freepost envelope is included in your postal ballot pack. If you are sending it from overseas, you will need to pay the postage. If it is too late to post it back, you can hand it in at a polling station in the relevant electoral area or to the Returning Officer at the address below.
We will send you instructions on how to vote by post with your postal vote pack.
What if I do not receive my postal ballot pack, or it is lost or spoilt?
You can apply for a replacement pack by going to the address below. You will need to bring ID with you, such as your passport, driving licence, bus permit, student card or employee ID card. You can do this up to 5 p.m. on election day. Please contact Electoral Services on the number below for advice before visiting our offices to apply for a replacement.
How is my postal vote counted?
Your ballot paper will be mixed with all the others before counting begins, so your vote will be kept secret.
Any further questions?
If you have any further questions about voting by post, or would like to request an application form please contact us on the number or email below.
Related pages on this website
External websites
Contact us
| Officer / Team | Electoral Services Team |
|---|---|
| Postal address | Blaby District Council Council Offices Desford Road Narborough Leicester LE19 2EP |
| E-mail address | electoral@blaby.gov.uk |
| Telephone | 0116 272 7560 |
| Fax | 0116 272 7596 |
If you need this information in other languages or formats (large print, Braille or audio), please let us know when you contact us.
This page was last updated on 30th July 2009
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