Apply for a postal vote - paper form
Source: gov.uk (2025-09-10)

Use this form to apply for a postal vote in England, Wales or Scotland.

You must be registered to vote (https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote) in the UK before you can apply.

If you are registered to vote in Northern Ireland

The rules are different if you want to apply for a postal vote in Northern Ireland (https://www.eoni.org.uk/Vote/Voting-by-post-or-proxy) for all elections.

If you’re registered to vote anonymously

Being registered to vote anonymously means your name and address do not appear on the electoral register. You will need to apply for your postal vote through your electoral registration office (https://www.gov.uk/contact-electoral-registration-office).

Before you apply

You’ll need:
- the address where you are registered to vote
- your National Insurance number (https://www.gov.uk/find-national-insurance-number) or other identity documents, for example a passport
- the specific date of the election or referendum you want to make a postal vote, if you only want a one-off postal vote
Where to send your form

Send the completed form to your electoral registration office (https://www.gov.uk/contact-electoral-registration-office).

Contact your electoral registration office (https://www.gov.uk/contact-electoral-registration-office) if:
- you cannot print a copy of the postal voting application form
- you cannot sign a printed form
If you live abroad

If you want to vote by post and you live abroad, apply for a postal vote as soon as possible. It can take a long time for your postal vote ballot pack to reach you and get back to the UK.

Stop voting by post

If you no longer want to vote by post and want to vote in person instead, contact your electoral registration office (https://www.gov.uk/contact-electoral-registration-office). You must contact your electoral registration office no later than 11 working days before the election and by 5pm on that day.

If you want to vote by proxy instead, apply for a proxy vote (https://www.gov.uk/apply-proxy-vote). You must apply no later than 11 working days before the election and by 5pm on that day.

Change where your postal vote is sent

If you’ll be away from home when the postal vote ballot pack is sent out, for example, on holiday or because of work commitments, you can apply for your pack to be sent to a different address. You must apply no later than 11 working days before the election and by 5pm on that day. Contact your electoral registration office (https://www.gov.uk/contact-electoral-registration-office) to change your address.

If you move house

If you move house, you must re-register to vote (https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote) at your new address, then reapply for a postal vote for your new address.

Other ways to apply for a postal vote

You can apply for a postal vote (https://www.gov.uk/apply-postal-vote) using the online service.

It isn’t possible to apply online for a postal vote for the Senedd Cymru (Welsh Parliament), Scottish Parliament and local elections in Scotland and Wales (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/apply-for-a-postal-vote).

Get help applying

There’s an easy read guide about applying online for a postal vote (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/apply-for-a-postal-vote-easy-read-guide) in England, Wales and Scotland.