Voting by post at elections
Anyone can apply for a postal vote, which allows voters much greater flexibility about when they complete their ballot paper.
A new digital service allows electors to apply online via GOV.UK for a postal vote. If you wish to apply for a postal vote please use this online application route. It is simple to use and more efficient.
Alternatively, you can download the form from the Electoral Commission website.
You can apply for a one-off postal vote or a continuous one.
When you have completed the form please return to:
Elections Team, Wyre Forest District Council, Wyre Forest House, Finepoint Way, Kidderminster, DY11 7WF or send a scanned copy of your form to electoral@wyreforestdc.gov.uk
You can apply for postal vote for future elections.
In line with the Register to Vote process, a check of an applicant’s National Insurance Number (or other relevant data) will now also be made for all absent vote applications. Electors with an existing postal arrangement will have time to make the adjustment and reapply under the new rules, and they will be contacted when they need to take action.
How to vote by post
Receiving your postal voting papers
- Look out for the white envelope with purple edges. It is usually sent out two weeks before polling day.
- Keep it safe, don't leave it where someone else can pick it up.
- If you lose or destroy it contact Electoral Services Office immediately.
How to cast your vote
Please take great care to ensure you do not mix your postal vote pack with anyone else who also has a postal vote pack in the household.
- Inside the outer envelope there will be:
- ballot paper(s)
- a postal voting statement
- quick guide to postal voting
- a ballot paper envelope A and a return envelope B.
- Please read through the quick guide to postal voting as there are detailed instructions explaining how to complete your paperwork.
- Detach the security statement at the perforations and in BLACK PEN write your date of birth in the boxes in day, month and year format.
- Sign within the boxed area
(This is an anti-fraud security measure. If these vary from the records you supplied to us previously, your vote will be rejected. If you have been allowed a signature waiver, there will be no box for your signature as you do not need to sign.) - Check the ballot paper(s) and in a private place mark a cross (x) in the box to the right of the party/candidate you want to vote for. DO NOT vote or more than the number of candidate(s) specified otherwise your vote will be rejected.
- Stick label A on envelope A.
- Fold the ballot paper(s), place in envelope A and seal.
- Stick label B on the reverse of envelope B. Put the security statement and envelope A into envelope B
- Return all this to us without delay – the postage is pre-paid
- Make sure your vote gets to us by 10pm on election day. You can hand your postal vote in at any polling station within the district if you haven't been able to post it on time.
Handing in postal votes
From 2 May at UK Parliament elections, local elections in England, and Police and Crime Commissioner elections in England and Wales, voters will be only able to hand in their own postal vote, and the postal votes of up to five other people, at a polling station.
Campaigners can only hand in their own postal vote, and postal votes for up to five other people that are either close relatives, or someone they provide regular care for.
Completion of postal vote documents form
- Anyone handing in postal votes will need to complete a ‘return of postal voting documents’ form.
- The person handing in the postal vote(s) will need to complete the form with their name, address and the reason for handing in other people’s postal votes (where appropriate).
- They will also need to complete a declaration that they are not handing in more than the permitted number, and that they 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(s) will be rejected.
- Rejected postal votes will not be included in the count.
- After the election, the Electoral Registration Officer will write to electors who have had their postal votes rejected, telling them why.
What if I am unable to provide a consistent specimen signature?
If you are unable to provide a signature as a personal identifier, please contact the Electoral Services Office, we will be able to advise on alternative postal voting methods.
Postal vote refresh
We have a duty to collect a signature from postal voters every three years to make sure we have an up-to-date signature. This is very important because your signature is used at elections when you cast your vote. If the signature we have on file for you is three years old or more then we will send you a form called Absent Vote Signature refresh, this will happen in January of each year.