Local elections: register for your postal vote now
Local elections of councillors to Hackney Council and for the Mayor of Hackney are taking place on Thursday 5 May, and residents are being encouraged to register now in order to vote by post.
Voting by post is a quick, easy and secure alternative to voting at a polling station.
To qualify for a postal vote you must first be registered to vote. You will need to register to vote if you have recently turned 18; and you will need to re-register to vote if you have recently moved home or changed your name. Register here. It only takes five minutes.
It’s easy to register to vote by post - download and return the online application form. Previous postal voters can return the form sent directly to them.
The deadline for making a new application for a postal vote for this election is 5pm on 19 April.
Postal votes are sent in batches depending upon the date you applied. Existing postal votes and new applications up to 13 March will be sent by 1st Class Royal Mail on 21 April.
Applications after this date and up until the deadline date of 19 April will be despatched by 1st Class Royal Mail between 25-27 April, arriving just before polling day.
If you need your postal vote by a particular date (for example if you are going to be out of the country) apply before the first cut off date.
Mark Carroll, Hackney Council’s Chief Executive and Electoral Registration Officer, said: “The easiest way to cast your vote is by post. It’s simple, safe and secure to register, and thousands of people across Hackney have already signed up. We recommend you register now to avoid a rush before the deadline.”
When applying to vote by post, you must provide your date-of-birth and signature - these are checked against the completed postal vote pack at an election to keep your vote secure.
Once registered to vote by post, you will receive a postal vote pack around a week before polling day containing your ballot papers. Once you receive your pack, you mark the ballot papers, complete the postal vote pack, and return it to the Council in the pre-paid envelope provided.
The Council is also encouraging people to ensure they post back their vote in good time, to avoid needing to take it to a polling station on Election Day.
For more information, contact: electoralservices@hackney.gov.uk; or: 020 8356 3232