Reapplying for your postal vote

New changes to postal voting mean you will now need to reapply every three years to keep your postal vote active.

If you applied for a postal vote before 31 October 2023, you must renew your application by 31 January 2026 or your postal vote will be cancelled. This would mean you'd have to vote in person at a polling station until you submit a new postal vote application or arrange for someone to vote on your behalf (known as a proxy vote).

These changes are part of the Elections Act 2022, which introduced new rules to improve the security and integrity of elections.

Support with renewing your postal vote

We understand that changes can be confusing, so we’re here to help and guide you through this process. We’ve already started contacting postal voters in Brent and will continue over the coming months to make sure everything is sorted well before the local council elections on Thursday, 7 May 2026.

You can expect to hear from us in one of two ways:

• by post - we’ll send you a letter explaining what you need to do
• by email - if we have your email address, you’ll receive a reminder from Brent’s Electoral Services Team. It will come from electoral.services@brent.gov.uk with the subject line “ACTION REQUIRED Postal Vote Renewal Reminder.” This is a genuine email from us to make the process quicker and more environmentally friendly.

Please respond as soon as you can to avoid delays and make sure your postal vote is ready in time for the next election.

Note, different members of the same household might be contacted in different ways, depending on whether we hold an email address for them. We're using emails where possible to reduce our carbon footprint and save on postage costs.

The quickest and simplest way to reapply is online.

When applying, you’ll need to provide:

• your date of birth
• your National Insurance number. Find your NI number.
• a photo or scanned copy of your handwritten signature in black ink on plain white paper. Find information on how to upload your signature. 
  
  If you can’t provide a consistent signature, you can still apply for a postal vote by requesting a signature waiver form from us, just let us know the reason. Alternatively, apply online or ask us to send you a paper form. If someone helps you, they’ll need to include their details too.

If you applied after 31 October 2023, there are some additional changes to keep in mind:

• you'll need to prove your identity as part of the application process. The details will be checked against records held by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). If the check isn’t successful, you’ll be asked to provide alternative evidence of your identity
• postal vote applications are now valid for up to three years
• you’ll be contacted when it’s time to renew your postal vote in future.

Alternative ways to apply

If you're unable to complete the application online, you can download a paper application form. Alternatively, you can request one by emailing electoral.services@brent.gov.uk or calling Brent’s Electoral Services Team on 020 8937 1372.

Please note: if you complete a paper form, it must be returned by post or delivered by hand, we cannot accept paper applications by email.

If you no longer want to vote by post and would prefer to vote in person, you’ll need to notify us in writing. Your cancellation request must include your handwritten signature so we can verify it against your original application.

You can cancel your postal vote in one of the following ways:

• online: complete the online absent vote cancellation request form.
• by email: send your request to electoral.services@brent.gov.uk, attaching a clear photo or scan of your handwritten signature.
• by post: send a signed letter to: Electoral Services, Brent Civic Centre, Engineers Way, Wembley, HA9 0FJ

We cannot accept paper applications or cancellations by email without a signature attachment.

Please note, if you decided to vote at a polling station instead of by post, you must bring photo ID with you. You can check which types of ID are accepted on the Electoral Commission website.