Renewing your postal vote arrangement
Renew Your Postal Vote
If you applied for a postal vote before 31 October 2023, your postal vote is due to expire on 31 January 2026.
We are contacting everyone who registered to vote by post before 31 October 2023, asking you to renew now. This is to give you time to re-apply for your postal vote and it will help us process all the renewals efficiently.
If you have been contacted by us and would like to renew your postal vote, please use the GOV.UK apply for a postal vote service. If you are unable to apply online, you can download a PDF version or call our customer services department on 01923 776611
About the postal vote changes
The Elections Act 2022 changed the way everyone must apply for a postal vote for applications received from 31 October 2023. The changes are:
- All postal vote applications must contain your name, address, date of birth, national insurance number and signature
- Your identity must be verified against records held by the Department for Work and Pensions. If this identity check fails, you must provide evidence of your identity
- Postal votes are now valid for a maximum of 3 years
All postal voters, who got a postal vote before 31 October 2023, must re-apply for their postal vote by 31 January 2026.
If you do not re-apply by the expiry date, your postal vote will be cancelled.
Please email us if you no longer wish to vote by post.
How we contact you
We are sending a letter or email to all affected postal voters in Three Rivers.
So that you can spot a genuine email from us:
- The email subject will be 'Renew your Postal Vote'
- The sender will be Electoral.Services@Threerivers.gov.uk
We are sending emails if you have provided one to us, to reduce the cost of sending letters by post. Please help us by responding to our request for information as soon as possible.
Some members of the same household may be contacted in different ways, depending on whether we have an email address for you or not.
Help with your renewal Apply for a postal vote
If you would like to vote by post, you can apply online at: https://www.gov.uk/apply-postal-vote
We must receive your postal vote application by 5pm, 11 working days before polling day.
As part of the measures introduced by the Elections Act 2022 you will now need to provide:
- Your date of birth, and
- Your National Insurance number
This will then need to be verified against government records. This is an anti-fraud measure to protect the integrity of the postal voting system.
You will also need to provide a copy of your signature.
When you apply online you will need to upload a clear version of your signature. If you are taking a photo, please ensure the following:
- The image of your signature must be clear
- There should be no shadows over the signature
If you are unable to apply online, you can download a PDF version or call our customer services department on 01923 776611
Written confirmation will be sent to you once your application has been processed.
Postal votes last for a maximum of three years after which voters will need to re-apply.
Sending postal votes abroad
Ballot papers can be sent outside the UK (if, for example, you are going on holiday), however, they could be sent out only about 7 to 10 days before an election.
You are strongly advised to appoint a proxy to vote on your behalf instead of asking for your postal vote to be sent abroad.
Proxy voting is also advised if you will be away from your ballot paper address around election time, as we cannot guarantee that your postal vote will arrive before you leave.
Updating your postal vote arrangement
If you already have a postal voting arrangement in place and would like to make an amendment, for example, you have updated your signature or you would like your ballot paper sent to another address, the simplest way is to reapply online at GOV.UK. We must receive your postal vote application by 5pm, 11 working days before polling day.
Moving to a new address
You will need to complete a new application to register to vote (GOV.UK) if you have moved to a new address. We must receive your postal vote application by 5pm, 11 working days before polling day.
You will also need to complete a new application to vote by post if you want to continue voting in this way. We must receive your postal vote application by 5pm, 11 working days before polling day.
Cancel a postal vote
Requests to cancel existing postal voting arrangements must reach us by 5pm, 11 working days before an election to be actioned for that election.
The quickest and easiest way to cancel a postal vote is to complete our online form.
You cannot submit this request on behalf of anyone else.
Alternatively, you can post a written request to Electoral Services, ensuring that you include:
- Your signature, and
- Date of birth
Written confirmation will be sent to you once your request has been processed.
Using your postal vote
You cannot vote in person at a polling station if you have successfully applied to vote by post, however, you can take your complete postal ballot pack (ballot paper and accompanying postal voting statement) to a Three Rivers polling station on polling day between 7am and 10pm where you will also need to complete a further declaration.
Receiving and returning your postal vote ballot pack
Your postal vote pack will be delivered to the address specified on your application.
It will contain a postal voting statement and relevant ballot paper(s). The statement will need to be signed by you, unless a signature waiver has been granted by the Electoral Registration Officer. You will also be required to give your date of birth. It is illegal to sign a postal voting statement on behalf of anyone else.
Your complete postal ballot pack (ballot paper and accompanying postal voting statement) can be returned in one of the following ways:
- Post it using the pre-paid envelope provided (remember to send it in good time as it must reach us by 10pm on polling day)
- Deliver it to the Three Rivers House, Rickmansworth WD3 1RL
- Deliver it to a Thre Rivers polling station on polling day (between 7am and 10pm)
If you deliver your postal vote to a polling station or the Town Hall, you will need to complete a further declaration. 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. You will also be required to complete a short form when handing in postal votes at the Council Offices or in 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.
All postal ballot packs must be received by 10pm on polling day to be included in the count.
Lost postal vote pack
If you have lost or not received your postal vote pack you can request a replacement. By law, the earliest date that you can request a replacement is four working days before polling day. The deadline to apply for a replacement postal vote pack is 5pm on polling day. Contact Electoral Services for further information.
