How to vote

What to do at the polling station, how to vote by proxy or by post and how to find a polling station.

Vote by post

You can, if you choose, apply to vote by post instead of in person.

However, if you do you will not then be able to vote in person at a polling station.

Deadline for postal vote applications

The deadline to apply for a postal vote is 5pm, 11 working days prior to an election or referendum. 

The deadline for completed applications to vote by post is 5pm on Wednesday 17 April 2024.

How to apply

You can make an application to vote by post on the Government website.

Apply to vote by post on Gov.uk

To apply you will need to provide your:

  • full name
  • address, including post code
  • national insurance number
  • date of birth
  • handwritten signature

If you do not have a National Insurance number, you will need to explain why.  You can then upload alternative documents to help verify your application. 

How to upload a photo of your signature

You will need to upload a picture of your signature and the Government website has advice on how to do this.  

Your signature must be:

  • in focus
  • without shadows
  • without anything showing in the background
  • the right way up

If you are unable to provide a distinctive signature due to a disability, or if you are unable to read or write, we may grant you a waiver.

For more information:

Apply for a postal vote using a paper application

If you cannot apply online, you can submit a paper application. The paper application requires the same information as applying online.

Download a paper application for a postal vote 

If you do not have a printer we can send you a paper application. to request one:

Once completed, to submit the form:

  • email our elections team a scanned version
  • return it by hand or by post to Electoral Services, Newcastle City Council, Civic Centre, Barras Bridge, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8QH

Casting your postal vote

We send out ballot papers to reach postal voters two weeks before polling day. 

They are sent via first class post with a special first class reply envelope to return them. The Royal Mail treats postal votes as a priority.

The ballot pack includes instructions on how to return the ballot papers.  You’ll need to complete a postal voting statement, enclosed within the pack, with your signature and date of birth.  We compare this to your original application to make sure that the person voting is the same as the person who applied for the postal vote. The vote cannot be counted if they do not match.

You must return the postal voting statement and your ballot papers before the close of polling on the day of an election.  If your postal vote arrives after the close of the poll, it will not be counted.

Renewing your postal vote

The maximum time you can be registered for postal voting is 3 years.

We will write to you when it is time for you to reapply.