How to reapply
If you vote by post, you now need to reapply for your postal vote every three years, following changes to the.Elections Act.
If you applied for your postal vote before 31 October 2023 you need to reapply by 31 January 2026.
If you don't reapply, your postal vote will be cancelled and you will have to vote in a polling station until you reapply or appoint a proxy to vote on your behalf.
What to expect
If you haven't updated your postal vote details during our annual canvass (we sent letters to all homes), we will write to you to tell you want to do next:
- if we hold an email address for you, we will send you an email from the government's secure NOTIFY system or
- we will send you a letter
How to reapply
The quickest and easiest way to reapply for your postal vote is on the GOV.UK website. As part of your application, you will be required to provide your:
- Date of birth
- National Insurance Number
- Upload a photo or scanned copy of your handwritten signature in black ink on plain white paper.
If you are unable to complete your application online you can download a paper application form in England. You can also request a paper application form by emailing elections@lichfielddc.gov.uk or call electoral services on 01543 308250
Frequently asked questions
Is the email I have received genuine?
You can spot a genuine email from us as:
- the email title will be Notice to reapply for a postal vote
- the sender will be from Lichfield District Council - Electoral Services
Some members of the same household may be contacted in different ways, depending on whether we have an email address or not.
We are using emails where a voter has provided an email address to reduce our carbon footprint and to reduce the cost of sending letters by post.
Please help us by responding as soon as possible.
I can't sign consistently, what can I do?
If you are unable to provide a signature or 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.
If you prefer to complete a paper application, please contact us by phone or email and request a waiver declaration to be sent to you. The waiver declaration needs to be returned with your postal vote application form.
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.
I no longer wish to vote by post, what do I need to do?
Cancellation of postal votes must be made in writing, and this can be done by email to elections@lichfielddc.gov.uk or by letter to:
Electoral Services, District Council House, Frog Lane, Lichfield. WS13 6YU
Your correspondence must include your full name and address.
Be aware that if you are no longer a postal voter, you now need to take an accepted form of photo ID with you to vote in a polling station. For more information visit the voter ID page on the Electoral Commission website.
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.