Stratford-on-Avon District postal voters to be contacted about new requirements for reapplication

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

All postal voters who completed a postal vote application form before 31 October 2023 will be required to renew their postal vote application by 31 January 2026. Postal votes will be limited to a maximum of three years, following which it will be necessary to make a new application.

Stratford-on-Avon District Council will be contacting around 17,000 registered postal voters in the District directly by email, where an email address is held or by post informing them of the new rules and encouraging them to reapply as soon as possible ahead of the deadline.

The quickest and easiest way to reapply for a postal vote application is to apply online at www.gov.uk/apply-postal-vote

What you need to do

You will need the following information to apply for a postal vote:

• the address where you are registered to vote
• your National Insurance number and date of birth
• a clear photo of your handwritten signature in black ink and on plain paper

As part of the changes introduced by the Government, all postal vote applications must contain the applicant's name, address, date of birth, national insurance number and signature.

Identity will be verified against records held by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). If this check fails, the applicant must provide further evidence of their identity.

Alice Revans-Perry, Stratford District Council's Senior Elections Officer said: Changes to the Government's Elections Act mean that it's now necessary for people to reapply for a postal vote every three years. Those who last applied before October 2023 will soon by contacted by our elections team to remind them that they need to reapply if they want to continue to vote by post in future elections.

"We are using emails to reduce the cost of obtaining information from our residents. Please help us by responding to our request for information as soon as possible.

"Remember that you don't have to wait for us to contact you; you can reapply or submit a new application for a postal vote, at  www.gov.uk/apply-postal-vote."

Email messages will come from stratfordonavondc@householdresponse.com, and will be titled: 'Action Required - Postal Vote Reapplication'. The process can also be accessed via the government website at www.gov.uk/apply-postal-vote.

If anyone is unable to complete the application online, paper copies of the application form can be downloaded via Apply for a postal vote - paper form - GOV.UK

Anyone who does not respond to this round of messaging will receive another invitation to do so, closer to the postal vote expiry date of 31 January 2026.

If they do not reapply by the expiry date their postal vote will be cancelled.

For more information please visit: www.stratford.gov.uk/postal-votes