Voting by post

The deadline for these elections to register for a postal vote, or to change or cancel an existing postal vote, is 5pm on Tuesday, 21 April 2026.

How to vote by post

You can apply online to vote by post. The last day to apply to vote by post or to change or cancel an existing postal vote is 5pm on Tuesday, 21 April 2026.

Postal voting packs will be sent via Royal Mail 1st class. Postal voting packs must be returned to us by the close of the poll - 10pm on Thursday, 7 May 2026.

All postal votes will include a prepaid 1st class envelope for the postal vote to be returned in. All postal votes need to be received by 10pm on Thursday, 7 May 2026.

Important changes regarding hand-delivering postal votes

The law changed and you now must complete a form if you hand-deliver your postal ballot papers to the Civic Offices or a Polling Station. Voters can hand in their postal ballot papers from 9am - 5pm in normal office hours, or at any polling station in the borough before 10pm on Thursday, 7 May 2026. There is a limit to the number of postal votes someone can hand deliver. You can hand in your own postal vote and postal votes for up to 5 other voters. A political campaigner can only hand in their postal vote plus the votes of up to 5 family members or people for whom they provide regular care.

When voters hand-deliver postal votes, they must complete a form to be attached to the postal vote. Staff at the Civic Offices or at the polling station will provide you with this form. Please allow extra time to do this when hand-delivering postal votes. If the person who hand delivers does not complete a form to accompany postal votes, the vote(s) will be rejected.

Voting by post and haven’t received a postal ballot paper - what to do

If you are a postal voter and you have not received your ballot papers, you can apply for a replacement.  We are not able to re-issue your ballot papers until Thursday, 30 April 2026.

Please note:

  • If you do not receive your postal pack by Thursday, 30 April 2026, you must make contact with the office so you can be issued with a replacement postal pack.

  • the deadline to apply for a replacement ballot paper pack is by 5pm Thursday, 7 May 2026.

  • You will need to provide a photo ID

Contact our helpline on 020 8770 4179 for further advice.

I vote by post and have spoiled my paper – what do I do?

If you are a postal voter and you have spoiled your postal pack, you can apply for a replacement immediately. Contact our helpline on 020 8770 4179

  • If you spoil your papers, you must bring the old pack with you for us to replace it; do not throw it away.  You will also need to bring a photo ID with you.

  • The deadline to apply for a replacement ballot paper pack is 5pm on Thursday, 7 May 2026.