General election 2017: How to apply for a postal vote

Time is running out to apply for a postal vote for the general election on 8 June.

The postal vote is open to anyone in England, Scotland and Wales, while voters in Northern Ireland must offer a reason for their request, which has to relate either to disability, employment or education.

You must be registered to vote to apply. For more information on registering to vote click here.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

How to apply

The deadline for applying for a postal vote is 5pm on Tuesday 23 May, 11 days before the election.

Download, print out and fill in the application form from the Electoral Commission website and post it to your local authority (the site gives you the address if you input your postcode). Some electoral registration offices will allow you to email a scanned application form.

What happens next?

A ballot paper will be sent to the address you provided. You will need to fill it out and return it by 10pm on polling day - 8 June. A Freepost envelope is included in your postal ballot pack.

Can you vote from abroad?

Yes, of course, but you will need to pay the postage. You'll also need to send it with plenty of time to ensure it arrives before 8 June.

What if you live in a country with an unreliable postal system?

If you are worried that a postal vote pack will not make it to your address or that your vote will not make it back to the UK, it is advisable to apply for a proxy vote, where someone else votes for you.

You will need to download the proxy voting application form and either post it to your polling station or scan and email it to the appropriate address, which can be found online via the Electoral Commission website.