Postal voting

If you cannot or do not want to vote in person at your polling station, you can apply for a postal vote online on GOV.UK or sending a paper form. 

What you need to apply for a postal vote

You will need:

• to have registered to vote already
• your national insurance number

When to apply and getting your postal vote

You must reapply to vote by post every three years.

• Apply as early as possible, but at least 11 days before polling day. 
• After applying, you will get a postal pack with your ballot paper in it around a week before polling day depending on when you applied. If you applied near the deadline, your pack will arrive closer to polling day.
• You must complete your postal pack and return it before the poll closes at 10pm on polling day.

You can only hand in up to five postal ballot packs at a polling station, as well as your own. Political parties and campaigners are banned from handling postal vote packs.

Apply for a postal vote

Online

Fill in the online application form on GOV.UK.

Apply online

Paper form

Or you can download a paper form from GOV.UK, fill it in and print it, then return the form to us at:

Electoral Services
Town Hall
Upper Street
London
N1 2UD.

How to vote by post

Return your completed postal vote ballot by post. Completed postal votes must reach the Returning Officer by 10pm on polling day.

Deliver in person and fill in a returns form

If you want to bring your postal vote into our offices or to your polling station, you must complete a return form. If you do not fill in the form, we cannot count your vote.

We will have returns forms at all polling stations and in the Electoral Services Office at Islington Town Hall.

By law, you can only hand in your own postal vote and up to five others.

How to renew your postal vote

You must renew your postal vote every three years. If you applied for a postal vote before 31 October 2023, you must renew your postal vote by 31 January 2026.

Contact us

If you have any questions about postal voting contact us by:

• phone: 020 7527 3110
• email: electoral.services@islington.gov.uk