Campaigns and Hubs The LGBTQ+ voting hub Voting by post You might choose to vote by post if it’s easier for you or you can’t get to a polling station on election day. To vote by post in a UK election you need to: register to vote before the pre-election deadline Apply to vote by post Receive your ballot and return it 1 - Registering to vote is easy. You can do it in a few minutes online. You’ll need to register to vote before you can apply for a postal vote. Register online here. 2 – Apply for a postal vote. Do this before the deadline, which is usually around three weeks before an election. You’ll need: The address where you registered to vote Your National Insurance number or other identity documents like a passport The date of the election or referendum you want to make a postal vote, if you’re only postal voting as a one-off State your date of birth A photo of your signature in black ink on white paper You can apply for a postal vote online here and find more information about applying for a postal vote from the Electoral Commission. 3 – You will be sent your vote ballot pack before the election. Inside the pack will be instructions about how to cast your vote. You should read through the instructions in your pack carefully. The Electoral Commission has a step-by-step guide to completing your ballot. Manage Cookie Preferences