How does postal voting work?

Postal voting lets you vote by post instead of at a polling station. In Great Britain, any registered voter can apply without giving a reason, online or on a paper form. You receive your ballot paper by post, fill it in, sign a statement and return it before polls close.

You must be registered to vote first. You then apply to your local council's electoral services team, or online through gov.uk. The deadline is usually 5pm, 11 working days before polling day. You must give your date of birth, signature and National Insurance number, so your identity can be checked. Since the Elections Act 2022, postal votes for UK Parliament elections last up to three years before you must reapply. Your pack arrives a week or two before the election. You mark your vote, sign the statement and seal it in the envelope. Post it back, or hand it in at a polling station in your area. There are limits on how many postal votes one person can hand in. Northern Ireland has different rules, and you need a reason to apply.