Absent Voting
Postal Voting
Renewing your existing Postal vote application
The application process for a postal vote has changed and you must now apply for your postal vote every 3 years.
If you applied for a postal vote before 30 January 2024, you must apply again by 31 January 2026 to remain a postal voter.
The quickest and easiest way to renew is to apply for a postal vote on GOV.UK.
If you cannot reapply online you can request a paper form here: Paper Form Request
We will start contacting you in May 2025 asking you to renew your postal vote
How we'll contact you
Initially, we'll be contacting all electors who have supplied us with their email address. To check that any correspondence you have received is genuine:
- the email title will be 'Postal Vote Re-application Notice'
- the sending account will be email: rbk.electoral.services@notifications.service.gov.uk
If we do not have an email address, or you do not reply to our email, we will send a letter to you in May.
We're contacting electors by email because re-applying online is the quickest and most cost effective way to make your application. Assist us by responding to our correspondence as soon as you can.
If you do not apply by 31 January 2026, your current postal voting arrangement will be cancelled.
If you no longer wish to vote by post, you can complete the Cancellation Form Request and a cancellation request form will be sent out to you in the post to complete and return.
What has changed
The Elections Act 2022 introduced new rules for postal votes. From Tuesday 31 October 2023:
- all postal vote applications must contain your name, address, date of birth, National Insurance Number and signature
- when you apply to vote by post your identity is checked against information held by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP). In some instances, this identity check fails, and you'll be asked to supply evidence of your identity
- postal votes are valid for a maximum of 3 years
Apply for a postal vote
You can apply to vote by post on the government website.
When applying you will need to provide your national insurance number, date of birth and copy of your signature.
The maximum length a postal vote application can be held is 3 years before it needs to be renewed.
Please note if you are going away on holiday the week before an election then a proxy vote may be a better option as postal votes are sent from external printers in batches and may only be posted to you 10 days before the election.
Applying for a paper form application
If you are unable to complete an online application you can download an application form via the GOV.UK website. If you do not have access to a printer you can contact Electoral Services to request a paper form, email us on electoral.services@kingston.gov.uk or call 020 8547 5026
This form can be returned by email or by post:
Electoral Services
Guildhall
High Street
Kingston upon Thames
KT1 1EU
We are unable to accept applications where the signature cannot be captured onto our records so if you decide to email a scanned image of your application, please ensure the image is clear.
Anyone who is registered to vote in Kingston can apply to become a postal voter. For security we require your national insurance number, signature and date of birth. Your date of birth and signature will be matched against the information you provide when you return your postal vote to ensure that your right to vote cannot be used by anyone else. If the signature and/or the date of birth provided cannot be matched to those supplied on your application, your ballot paper may be rejected.
If you cannot provide a consistent signature due to a disability or inability to read or write, it is possible to grant an exemption (known as a signature waiver). This can be applied for using the application website or listing on the paper form where you will need to fill in an additional form.
You can apply to vote by post at any time - you do not need to wait for an election to be called. The deadline to apply for a postal vote is 5pm 11 working days before an election.
Please see upcoming elections for details of the next scheduled elections.
Once a postal vote has been set up you will not be able to vote in person at a polling station unless you cancel your postal vote (in writing) by 5pm 11 working days before an election or referendum. Postal voting packs may only be sent 10 working days prior to an election.
You can apply for one election, a set period of time or up to a maximum of 3 years.
If you opt for a postal vote covering the maximum period of time, you will still be legally required to refresh your signature every three years to make sure we have a copy of your current signature. We will contact you when it is time to do so.
Cancel your postal vote
If you don't want to vote by post any more you need to write to us making sure you sign the letter so we can check it against our records. Either email the letter to us as an attachment to electoral.services@kingston.gov.uk or post it to:
Electoral Services
Guildhall
High Street
Kingston upon Thames
KT1 1EU
We cannot cancel postal votes any later than 5pm on the eleventh working day prior to an election.