Electors can vote by post, once their application has been verified.
You must provide a photograph or picture of your written signature, to be uploaded, as well as your National Insurance number and date of birth, to apply. This information will be used to verify you against government records. You can apply for a postal vote up to a maximum of three years, or for a specific election, or for a specific period. After the maximum three year period, you will need to re-apply providing the same information each time. Your application will go through a verification process before being accepted. If the verification process fails you will be contacted to provide additional information.
If you have difficulty providing a signature you can apply for a waiver. This means you will not need to provide a signature when using your postal vote. You will need to give a reason why you need a waiver.
If you have any issues applying online, please contact the electoral services office at elections@eastcambs.gov.uk or telephone 01353 665555.
Please note: If you move address your postal vote will be automatically cancelled. If you wish to continue to vote by post you will need to make a fresh application from your new address.
Postal voters will be sent a postal pack containing their ballot paper and a statement. This statement must be filled in with the elector's date of birth and be signed, before returning with the ballot paper.
Postal votes should be returned via a Royal Mail mailbox in plenty of time to be received at the council offices before the election.
Postal votes can also be handed in at the council offices or a polling station in the elector's voting area. Anyone handing in a postal vote must complete a form (possibly a separate form for each election if more than one are being held the same day) before the postal vote can be accepted. A maximum of five postal votes, plus the person's own, can be handed in - if someone hands in the maximum number they cannot then hand in any further postal votes at any other time or place.
Political campaigners are not permitted to handle anybody else's postal vote, except their own and that of family members or as someone's carer.
To vote by post, you must already be a registered voter. Not everyone on the electoral register can vote in every election. If unsure, please check with electoral services by telephoning 01353 665555.