If you are unable to visit the polling station on the day of the election, you can apply for a postal vote instead.
You must be registered in order to vote by post.
How to apply
Once registered, you must complete a postal vote application form with your personal identifiers - your date of birth and signature.
Your completed application must be received by us no later than 5pm, 11 working days before polling day.
Your ballot papers will be sent to you by post in a postal voting pack approximately one week before polling day. If this is not convenient you may want to consider voting by proxy or requesting for your postal vote to be sent to an alternative address instead.
Postal votes can be sent overseas, but you need to consider whether there will be enough time to receive and return your ballot. You may want to consider voting by proxy instead.
If you are unable to sign your postal vote application form due to a disability or an inability to read or write, please contact Electoral Services immediately on 01462 474503.
Returning your postal vote
When you receive your postal vote pack, complete and return it immediately.
The Returning Officer must receive your completed ballot no later than 10pm on polling day. Any votes received after this time will not be counted.
The completed ballot paper pack must be sent back to the Returning Officer. You can return this pack by post or by hand to the Council Offices in Letchworth.
You can also take the completed forms back to your polling station. You will not be allowed to vote at your polling station while you have a postal vote.
You can cancel your postal vote by putting your request in writing to the Electoral Registration Officer. If you are cancelling your postal or proxy vote prior to an election, this written request must be received by 5pm 11 working days before polling day.
Request a replacement postal voting pack
If you have not received your postal voting pack by the fourth working day before polling day, you can request a replacement by calling the Electoral Services helpline on 01462 474503.
We can only issue replacement postal voting packs up to 5pm on the day of the election. As part of this process you will have to provide proof of identity.
Spoilt ballot paper
If you spoil your ballot paper and would like a replacement please contact the Electoral Services helpline. You must first return your spoilt ballot paper together with all the other documents we sent with it.
The deadline for returning these documents and requesting a new postal voting pack is 5pm on polling day.
Absent vote signature refresh
Every year we are required to write to all absent voters (both postal and proxy) whose signature has been held on the "personal identifier" record for more than five years. This is an important security measure designed to reduce the possibility of electoral fraud and to safeguard your vote.
These letters are sent out in January. If you receive a letter you should provide a fresh signature and return it to us.
Absent voters who do not supply a fresh signature within six weeks of receiving this letter will lose their absent vote. You will need to either vote at the polling station or apply for a new absent vote.