Postal vote FAQs

How do I apply for a postal vote?

You can:

apply for a postal vote on the UK Government website

Or, you can get a form from the Electoral Registration Office (ERO) on 0131 344 2500, or at www.lothian-vjb.gov.uk . Anyone on the electoral register can apply for a postal vote as long as you are registered. The last date to apply for a postal vote is Wednesday 19th June 2024.

Your postal vote pack will contain:

1 ballot paper
a postal voting statement (you must fill in your date of birth and signature)
an “A” envelope to put your completed ballot paper in
a “B” envelope to return everything (pre-paid, no stamp required)

Where can I get my postal vote sent?

It can be sent to your home address or to any other address that you give. Postal votes can be sent overseas, but you need to consider whether there will be enough time to receive and return your postal vote pack by polling day, a proxy vote may be more suitable.

When will I get my postal vote?

Postal votes will be issued from 19 June with a later issue despatched on 26 June 2024. If you are applying for a postal vote you need to consider when you are actually going away, i.e. if you have asked for your postal vote to go to your home address you need to be at home to receive it. You may wish to consider a proxy vote if you are unsure.

If you applied for a postal vote by 7 June, then this has been posted out and should arrive soon if you haven’t already received it. If you applied for one between 8-19 June it will be sent out by this weekend.

Why haven’t I received my postal vote?

You should receive your postal vote pack around the dates mentioned above. You can contact the ERO on 0131 344 2500 to check you are registered as a postal voter.

I applied for a postal vote but now want to vote in person, can I do this?

Up until 19 June 2024 you can change to vote in person by contacting the ERO on

0131 344 2500. After this date it is too late to change.

I have received, and completed, my postal vote, when should I return it?

Postal votes should be returned as soon as possible but must be received by close of poll (10pm on polling day) They can be handed in to a polling place in Lothian East constituency.

How do I return my postal vote?

Postal votes should be returned BY POST, wherever possible. If it is too late to do so, postal votes can be handed in at the Council Office, John Muir House, Haddington up to 5pm on polling day. (No other Council offices will accept postal votes.) Postal votes can also be handed in to a polling place in your constituency up to close of poll (10pm on polling day.) For UK Parliament elections, if you hand in your postal vote to John Muir House or to a polling place, you will need to complete a form which will include your name and address & number of postal votes you are handing in. If you hand in/leave a postal vote without completing a form that postal vote will be rejected.

Can I hand in more than one postal vote to a polling place or John Muir House?

For UK Parliament elections, you can only hand in your own postal vote and the postal votes of up to 5 other people, to a polling place or to John Muir House. You will need to complete a form including your name and address, how many postal votes you are handing in, and why you are handing in those postal votes. If you hand/leave postal votes without completing a form, or if you hand in more than 5 postal votes plus your own, they will be rejected.

I have applied for a postal vote but not yet received it and I am going to be away from home soon, what can I do?

Up until 19 June 2024 you can apply to change your postal vote to a proxy vote – phone the ERO on 0131 344 2500 to arrange this. After this date your postal vote cannot be changed.

I received my postal vote but have now lost it, how can I get a replacement?

Contact the helpline 01875 824300 for advice.

Postal Vote received but voter unable to complete due to existing medical condition, can someone else complete it on their behalf?

No – the signature on the postal vote statement has to be verified (against the original application signature) the vote will be rejected if someone else has signed the statement. Contact the ERO on 0131 344 2500 to arrange for a proxy vote or a waiver for future elections. Note: Power of Attorney does not apply to voting.

I have applied for a postal vote, can I still vote at the polling station?

No - but on Polling Day you can return your postal vote to a polling station (by 10pm) within the Lothian East constituency