Following changes introduced by the Elections Act 2022, postal voters are now required to re-apply for their postal vote every three years.
All postal voters who made their current application before 31 October 2023 are required to re-apply for their postal vote by 31 January 2026.
If a new application is not received by 31 January 2026, the Electoral Registration Officer is required by law to cancel the postal vote. In such cases electors will have to vote at a polling station with photographic ID, until a new postal vote application is received or a proxy is appointed.
What happens next?
We will be contacting all those affected by this change in the coming weeks explaining how to re-apply. We have started the process early for applications to be processed and queries responded to in sufficient time in advance of the deadline.
- We will be sending an initial email to all electors we hold an email address for, which will be sent from the Government’s Secure Gov.Notify system.
- All other postal voters affected, for whom we do not hold an email address, will receive a letter which will contain information on what to do next.
You do not have to wait to receive our re-application reminder to make a new application. To make your application online follow the steps below.
How to re-apply for a postal vote
The quickest and easiest way to re-apply for a postal vote is to do it online
As part of your application, you will be required to provide your:
- date of birth
- upload a photo or scanned copy of your handwritten signature in black ink on plain white paper
- National Insurance Number
How to find your National Insurance Number?
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. Find your National Insurance Number
How to cancel your postal vote
The easiest way to cancel your postal vote is via our online form
If you prefer you can cancel it via email or post. You must include either a valid proof of ID or your handwritten signature so that we can verify it against your original application.
- Cancel by email: elections@harrow.gov.uk
- Cancel by post: London Borough of Harrow, Electoral Services, PO Box 1358, Harrow, HA3 3QN
If you are no longer a postal voter you will need to take an accepted form of photo ID with you to vote at your polling station. Find more information on voter ID.
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 re-apply for a postal vote
- the sender will be from London Borough of Harrow - Electoral Services
Some members of the same household may be contacted in different ways depending on whether we have an email address or not.
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. First 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. A Signature Waiver form will be sent to you.
What are my personal identifiers and how are they 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.
When is the next scheduled election?
The next scheduled elections in Harrow will be the Local Council elections held on Thursday 7 May 2026.