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Download presentations from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities and The Electoral Commision.
Introduction to the absent voting changes and the Online Absent Voting Application system
James Moore, Policy Manager for Online Absent Vote Applications, Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities
Joanne Anderson, Legislation Guidance Manager, The Electoral Commission
Introduction to secrecy of the ballot and postal vote handling changes
Paul Docker, Head of Electoral Delivery, Elections Division, Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities
Charlotte Griffiths, Elections Guidance Manager, The Electoral Commission
Election matters: Changes to absent voting and postal vote handling, 28 February 2024 FAQs
Online Absent Voting Applications System
Can campaigners complete the new online form for residents?
Yes, there is nothing to prevent campaigners from assisting residents to complete the online or paper application forms.
Postal vote handling rules
Where can we access the postal vote handing in form?
The Returning Officer will make postal vote return forms available in polling stations and council offices where postal votes are accepted. Authorised members of staff will support individuals wishing to return postal votes by hand to complete the form.
How will staff know if a person handing in a postal vote is doing so a campaigners?
The person completing the form will need to make a declaration to confirm they are able to hand in the postal votes in accordance with the new legislation (Elections Act 2022).
If an individual attempts to hand in too many postal votes, should staff take them and reject them or let the individual know first that they are trying to hand in too many and this will result in them all being rejected?
Authorised members of staff will support individuals to complete the postal vote return form. As part of the process, individuals must confirm how many postal votes they are handing in. The member of staff will advise the individual that they are only allowed to hand in their own postal vote and postal votes for up to 5 other people.
Staff will advise that if the individual hands in postal votes for more than 5 other people, the postal votes for the other people will be rejected and only the individual’s own postal vote will be accepted.
The individual can hand in the permitted number of postal votes and leave the polling station with the remaining postal votes.
If an individual attended more than one polling station and handed in six postal votes in each, how would this be picked up? Is there an expectation that returning officers are tracking people handing in postal votes?
This person would be committing an offence by handing in more votes than permitted under the legislation and by inaccurately completing the form and declaration.
Electoral staff must accept forms at face value unless there is a reason to believe that the individual the individual has handed in more postal votes than they are entitled to.
The sealed packets of postal vote return forms for accepted postal votes are not open to inspection and can only be inspected after the election by order of a court
Does the returning officer need to authorise staff members taking the postal vote, or can any council staff member perform this function?
The member of staff would need to be authorised by the returning officer receive postal votes and advise voters on completing the new form. They would need to have received appropriate training to be able to make the necessary determination about accepting or rejecting the postal votes.
Is there any advice about what the opening times for receptions receiving postal votes should be? For example, do we need to keep our reception open until 10 pm on polling day?
This is at the discretion of the returning officer and needs may vary from area to area based on various local considerations. There is no requirement to keep receptions open until 10 pm on polling day.
Does a voter sending their postal vote in by Royal Mail need to complete the new form?
No, only people handing in their postal votes by hand and not through Royal Mail will need to complete the form. It is not permissible for voters to drop their postal votes at customer services/reception or through a council post box without completing the new form.
Is there a new risk for electoral staff in rejecting postal votes due to these new rules?
The process for rejecting postal votes that have been incorrectly handed in is similar to rejecting postal votes for existing reasons. Staff will need to give one of the following reasons for the rejection:
- the postal vote return form was not fully completed
- the number of postal votes handed in exceeded or was expected to exceed the permitted number
- the postal vote was handed in by a political campaigner not permitted to handle the postal votes
- the postal vote was left behind and no form was completed
Will there be a national communication campaign for the changes to handing in postal votes?
No there is no national communication campaign about the changes to the rules. This is because the provisions do not apply to all elections across the UK. Information will be provided in the postal vote ballot pack as well as on poll cards.