Reapplying for a postal vote

Following changes introduced by the Elections Act 2022, postal voters are now required to reapply for their postal vote every three years.

All postal voters who made their current application before 31 October 2023 are required to reapply for their postal vote by 31 January 2026. If a new application is not received by this date, the Electoral Registration Officer is required by law to cancel the postal vote. Electors will then have to vote in a polling station until a new postal vote application is received, or a proxy is appointed.

To vote in a polling station all electors are required to bring an accepted form of photo ID (opens in a new window) on polling day.

We will be contacting all those affected by this change in the coming weeks and explaining how to reapply. We have started this process early so that applications can be processed and queries responded to before the next elections on Thursday 7 May 2026.

How will you contact me?

If we hold an email address for you, we will send you an email using the Government's secure GOV.UK Notify system.

If we do not hold an email address for you, we will send you a letter in the autumn containing information on what to do next.

Reapply online

The quickest and easiest way to reapply for a postal vote is online.

Before you start

To apply online you will need:

your date of birth
your National Insurance number
a photo or scanned copy of your handwritten signature in black ink on plain white paper

Apply now

What has changed?

The Elections Act 2022 introduced the following changes for voters who applied for a postal vote after 31 October 2023:

electors can now apply online
electors must prove their identity as part of the application process
checks are carried out using records held by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
if the identity check fails, electors must provide evidence of their identity
postal vote applications are now valid for a maximum period of three years, after which a new application must be made

Frequently asked questions

Is the email I have received genuine?

An email from us will have:

the email subject Postal Vote Expiry – Tunbridge Wells Borough Council
the email sender Electoral Services - Tunbridge Wells Borough Council

Some members of the same household may be contacted in different ways. This will depend on whether we have an email address or not.

If you have provided us with an email address, we will contact you by email to reduce our carbon footprint and the cost of sending letters by post. Please help us by responding as soon as possible.

How do I reapply for a postal vote?

The quickest and easiest way is to reapply online.

If you are unable to apply online you can download a paper application form.

You can ask for a paper application form to be sent to you in the post by emailing elections@tunbridgewells.gov.uk or calling 01892 554024 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm).

I cannot sign consistently, what can I do?

If you are unable to provide a signature, or cannot sign your name consistently, but still want to vote by post, you can apply for a postal vote without giving your signature. You will be required to provide a reason why you are unable to provide a consistent signature.

If you have had help completing your postal vote application, the person helping you will be required to supply their details.

If you would prefer to complete a paper application, please contact us by emailing elections@tunbridgewells.gov.uk or calling 01892 554024 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm). We will then send you a waiver declaration, which must be returned with your postal vote application form.

How to upload a signature online?

Find out how to upload your signature (opens in a new window).

Where can I find my National Insurance number?

You can find your National Insurance number on payslips, P60s, or letters from HMRC about tax, pensions, or benefits. Alternatively, you can use the find your National Insurance number service on GOV.UK (opens in a new window).

As part of the postal vote application process, your National Insurance number will be verified against records held by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). If this identity check fails, you must provide evidence of your identity.

If you are unable to provide your National Insurance number, you will need to provide some documents so we can confirm your identity.

What are my personal identifiers and how they are used?

On your postal vote application, you must provide your date of birth and signature, these are your 'personal identifiers'.

When you vote by post you are required to complete and return a statement giving your personal identifiers. These are checked against those you gave on your application to make sure they match. If they do not match, your vote will not be counted and your postal vote will be rejected.

This is a security measure to prevent someone else from using your vote.

Your personal identifiers are always kept separate from your ballot paper, so no-one knows how you have voted.

When is the next scheduled election?

The next scheduled elections in Tunbridge Wells are borough and parish council elections on Thursday 7 May 2026.