Local elections 2026: How do I get a postal vote? | UK | News
To apply for mail-in voting you will need:
- The address where you are registered to vote
- your National Insurance number or other identification documents such as a passport
- If you want to vote by post only once, the specific date of the election or referendum for which you want to vote by post
You will also need to upload a photo of your handwritten signature in black ink on plain white paper.
If you cannot provide a signature or have a signature that always looks the same, you can apply for a vote-by-mail signature waiver as part of the service.
You may be asked for additional documents to identify you.
Applications to register to vote increased sharply on Monday, the last day to apply ahead of the May 7 elections in England, Scotland and Wales. The number of claims rose to 112,641 from 42,827 on Sunday, the highest number lodged in a single day so far this year, according to government figures.
There is a separate deadline for voting by mail in the elections until 17:00 on Tuesday, April 21.
Proxy voting is when you have someone else, known as a proxy, vote on your behalf if you cannot go to the polling station yourself.
The deadline to register for proxy voting is April 28 at 17:00.
To apply for a proxy vote you will need:
- your National Insurance number or any other identification document, such as a birth certificate
- The address where your proxy is registered to vote
- Your representative’s contact information
You will also need to upload a photo of your handwritten signature in black ink on plain white paper.
If you are unable to provide a signature or a signature that always looks the same, you may apply for a proxy voting signature waiver as part of the service.
If you want to apply for a proxy vote, the rules are different. Northern Ireland for all elections.
There is a different way to apply for Senedd Cymru (Welsh Parliament), Scottish Parliament and local elections. Scotland and Wales using a paper form.
