Postal Voting - burnley.gov.uk

Voting by post is an easy and convenient way of voting if you are unable to get the polling station. You can apply for a postal vote at www.gov.uk/apply-postal-vote.

Frequently Asked Questions

I can’t sign consistently, what can I do?

If you are unable to provide a consistent signature but still want to vote by post, you can apply for a postal vote without giving your signature. Apply for a postal vote.

You will be required to provide a reason why you are unable to provide a consistent signature.

If you have had help completing the application, that person will be required to supply their details.

How to upload a signature online?

Find out how to upload your signature.

I am unsure what my national insurance number is?

You must prove your identity as part of the application process.

Your National Insurance Number (NINO) 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.

Get help to find your National Insurance number.

If you are unable to provide your national insurance number, you’ll need to provide some documents so that we can confirm your identity.

What are my personal identifiers and how they are used?

On your application to vote by post 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 then checked against those you gave on your application to check that they match. If they do not match, your vote will not be counted and your postal vote 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.

Who can apply for a postal vote?

Anyone aged 18 or over who is on the electoral register can apply for a postal vote. You do not need a reason to vote by post.

Where can I get my postal vote sent?

A postal vote can be sent to your home address or to any other address that you give. Postal votes can be sent overseas, but you need to consider whether there will be enough time to receive and return your ballot paper by election day

When will I receive my ballot papers?

Postal votes are usually sent out about a week before election day. Once you’ve got it, mark your vote on the ballot paper and make sure you send it back so that it arrives by close of poll. If it arrives later than this your vote won’t be counted.

A few things to remember about postal voting:

Once you have been issued a postal vote you can’t vote at a polling station, but you can drop your postal vote off at the polling station as long as the polling station is in the same ward or constituency
Remember that you must return your postal vote by 10pm on the day of the election
If you move house or change your name you will need to complete a new postal application
If you want a postal vote it is good to apply early. Don’t wait until an election is advertised

Returning your completed postal vote

The Government has introduced changes to the way postal votes should be returned to Burnley Council.

They CAN, as normal, be returned by post through the Royal Mail system to arrive at the Town Hall by 10pm on polling day, or handed in at a polling station in the relevant borough on polling day, between 7am and 10pm.

HOWEVER, postal votes CANNOT simply be left in letterboxes, at reception desks or handed over to staff.

They MUST be handed over in person at Burnley Town Hall reception to a member of council staff authorised to receive them by 10pm on polling day.

Any postal votes not returned in the correct manner will BE REJECTED and those electors will lose their vote.

For what period does my postal vote last?

You can apply for a particular election, for a set period of time, or for a maximum period of three years.

If I have applied for a postal vote, can I still vote at the polling station?

No. If you have applied to vote by post, you cannot vote in person at the polling station. However, on election day you can return your postal vote to the polling station or to Burnley Town Hall (both before polls close at 10pm). If you do not want to post it back, or it’s too late for it to arrive in time by post, you can hand it in at Burnley Town Hall (before 10pm on polling day).