Postal Voting

You can now apply online to vote by post. 

Postal vote handling and returns

New requirements on postal vote handling have been introduced for the 2024 elections. An elector will be permitted to hand in their own postal vote, and the postal votes of up to 5 other people. A person handing in postal votes at a polling station will be required to complete a form. If they do not fill in the required form, the postal votes will be rejected. If a person attempts to hand in more than the limit, they will only be allowed to hand in the permitted number. If a person seeks to hand in more than the permitted number regardless, they will all be rejected.

The limit on the number of postal votes a person can hand in will also apply to the handing in of postal votes to the Acting Returning Officer at the Council’s office. Any postal votes handed in at a council office, or, for example, posted through the door/letterbox, without the paperwork being completed will be rejected. Postal votes will therefore need to be handed in to staff appointed by the Acting Returning Officer for this purpose. Please ask the reception staff at the council for assistance if you are handing in your postal vote in person.

You can apply to vote by post for one of the following:

  • a single election on a specific date
  • a specific period
  • a maximum period of up to three years

In order to apply to vote by post, you can now apply online. If you are not able to complete the online application, you can download a postal vote application form  from the Government website. You will need your National Insurance number to hand when applying to vote by post.

If you have completed a paper application form, you can either:

  •  Send us a good quality scanned attachment with a clear signature to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Digital signatures will be rejected.
  • Post it to: Electoral Services, Erewash Borough Council, Town Hall, Wharncliffe Road, Ilkeston, Derbyshire, DE7 5RP
A postal vote can be sent to your home address or any other address you specify. But remember that if you want a postal vote sending overseas then you need to consider whether there would be time to receive the ballot paper and return it before the close of poll.

Postal votes are usually sent out about a week before the day of the election.

The deadline for making an application for a postal vote for an election is 5pm, 11 working days before polling day.

Postal votes must be received by the Returning Officer by the close of poll on election day.