Complete and return your postal vote
Instructions on how to complete your postal vote are included in your postal vote pack.
Completing your postal vote
To complete your postal vote you should:
- mark your ballot paper (using black ink*)
- place your ballot paper in the envelope marked 'A'
- sign the security statement** attached to envelope A (do not detach it), and complete your date of birth
- if you've accidentally detached the security statement, place it in envelope 'B'
- place completed envelope A into the return envelope marked 'B'
- return your postal vote before the election deadline
*We ask you to use black ink as this works best in the process of automated security checks. If you use a different colour we may have to make manual checks, however, we will do this to make ensure all votes can be counted.
**When you apply to vote by post you must provide your date of birth and signature. For security reasons the details are repeated on your postal ballot paper and the information must match for your vote to be counted. As the security statement is separated from the ballot paper envelope when it is received, and before the sealed ballot paper envelope is opened, your vote remains private (as with voting in person, which happens in a private polling booth).
Returning your postal vote
- you must mark your postal ballot paper with a vote
- it is a criminal offence for someone else to mark your postal ballot paper
We provide a pre-paid envelope to return your postal vote within the UK.
Allow extra time to return your postal vote from outside of the UK. We are not responsible or liable for:
- postage costs to return postal votes from outside the UK (you will have to pay)
- delays caused by postal services inside or outside of the UK
Also see