General Election 2024: Postal Votes issued

Ballot papers for the Stratford-on-Avon Constituency have started to be sent out to postal voters across the District for next month's General Election.

Over 15,000 postal vote packs for people already registered to vote by post have now been issued by Stratford-on-Avon District Council.

Any changes or new postal vote applications should expect to receive their postal vote pack after 24 June.

If you haven't already done so, there is still time to apply for a new postal vote or a new postal proxy vote, as the deadline is 5pm on Wednesday 19 June. Apply now at https://www.gov.uk/apply-postal-vote

Due to a change in legislation and new provisions from the Elections Act 2022, relating to the handling of postal votes, the District Council is urging residents to return their postal votes as soon as possible.

Stratford-on-Avon District Council's Senior Electoral Officer, Alice Revans-Perry said: "The first batch of postal votes have been dispatched to our residents with the second batch due out after 24 June and we're encouraging people to return it as soon as possible.

"Due to the changes, our best advice is to post postal votes through Royal Mail as soon as possible.  If you choose to hand in postal votes at the Council building or Polling Station, you will be limited to handing in no more than five postal votes for other electors, plus your own and you will also be required to complete a 'return of postal voting documents' form and declaration.  These rules apply to all postal votes not posted through Royal Mail."

How to complete and return your postal vote

When voting by post, you should:

• complete your ballot paper in secret
• complete the postal voting statement - with space for your date of birth and signature
• put the ballot and statement in the envelopes provided
• seal the envelope yourself
• post as quickly as possible to make sure it's counted

An instruction leaflet is included in your postal voting pack.

Also, please do not use unstaffed letterboxes at the Council offices as these will have to be rejected in compliance with the new legislation.

If you are too late to post your ballot paper back, you can hand it to your local polling station by 10pm on polling day, Thursday 4 July. However, this will require you to fill out a return of postal vote form. 

Residents have until midnight on 18 June to make sure they are registered, in order to vote.
It is quick and simple to register by visiting www.gov.uk/register-to-vote. People will need their date of birth and National Insurance number to be able to register.

The deadline for new proxy vote applications (not postal proxy or emergency proxies) is 5pm on Wednesday 26 June. Apply now at https://www.gov.uk/apply-proxy-vote

Photographic identification is now required to vote at a polling station, this includes passports, driving licences, bus passes and disabled badges. The full list of all acceptable documents is available at www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate

Anyone who does not have one of the required forms of photo ID will be able to get a free Voter Authority Certificate from the Council. To apply, visit www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate. The deadline to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate for the May elections is at 5pm on Wednesday 26 June 2024.

• Political Campaigners will no longer be able to handle postal votes, except where the postal vote is their own or a close family member or someone they provide care for.
  
  
• Postal workers or those that handle postal votes as part of their duties are also exempt.
  
  
• Anyone with a postal vote cannot vote in person at a polling station.