How to apply for a postal vote online
You can have a postal vote for a maximum of 3 years; you must reapply by the third 31st January following your application.
We will contact electors whose postal vote is due to expire in the upcoming January, to remind that the postal vote is expiring and how to reapply.
You can reapply for a postal vote online. When reapplying for your postal vote online you will need your national insurance number, and you will need to upload a photograph of your handwritten signature using black ink on plain white paper.
If you fail to reapply, either online or with a paper form, your postal vote must be cancelled, and you will revert to a polling station voter. You must remember to take an accepted form of photographic ID to vote in your polling station. You can find the list of accepted ID. Expired ID can be accepted if the photograph is still of a good likeness. If you do not have a form of accepted ID you can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate
Why do I need to reapply?
Following changes introduced by the Elections Act 2022, you can only hold a postal vote for up to 3 years. Postal votes expire on the third 31st January.
If you want to remain a postal voter you need to reapply.
Why do I need to provide my DOB and signature?
We collect dates of birth and signatures on postal vote applications. We check these against the statement included in your postal vote pack, if they don’t match, we reject the postal vote. This is for security to ensure nobody else uses your vote. Your ballot paper is kept separate from your statement to keep your vote secret.
I cannot provide a consistent signature
If you have a disability or are unable to read or write, you can apply for a signature waiver. Please contact the Electoral Services Office for more information, the details are at the end of this page.
My postal vote was cancelled, but I still want a postal vote
You will need to reapply for a postal vote, you can do so online or you can contact the Electoral Services Office for a paper form. The deadline to apply for a postal vote in the run up to an election is 5pm, 11 working days before the poll.
Proxy vote refresh
If you have a long-term proxy vote (where someone you trust votes on your behalf), you will need to refresh your signature every 5 years, failure to do so will mean your proxy vote is cancelled.
We will contact electors whose proxy vote is due to be refreshed in the upcoming January, to remind that the proxy vote needs a signature refresh. If we do not receive a response your proxy refresh, your proxy vote will be cancelled.
If your proxy vote expires and you still wish to vote by proxy you will need to reapply, if you don’t reapply you will revert to a polling station voter. You must remember to take an accepted form of photographic ID to vote in your polling station. You can find the list of accepted ID. Expired ID can be accepted if the photograph is still of a good likeness. If you do not have a form of accepted ID you can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate
Overseas electors absent voting arrangements
For overseas electors, who have a postal or proxy vote in place, it will expire at the same time as the overseas declaration, on the third 1st November following the overseas application.
You will be contacted ahead of your declaration/postal/proxy expiring, so you can renew your declaration and reapply for your postal vote or refresh your proxy.
Electoral Services Office contact details:
Post:
Electoral Services Office
Tamworth Borough Council
Marmion House
Lichfield Street
Tamworth
B79 7BZ
Email: elections@tamworth.gov.uk
Phone: 01827 214155 (office hours only)