Voting by Post
Everyone whose name appears on the Register of Electors can
apply to vote by post. Please note, however, that once an election
timetable starts to run, there is a legal closing date for postal
vote applications and the Returning Officer cannot accept late
applications.
To download an Application Form to Vote by Post, click on
the Related Document at the end of this page.Complete the form and
return it to the Elections Office, Council Offices, South Street,
Rochford, Essex SS4 1BW.
Because of concern about fraudulent practices related to postal
voting in some areas of the country at previous elections the
Government has recently introduced some new requirements in the
Electoral Administration Act 2006. It is now necessary when
applying for a postal vote to provide your date of birth and a
specimen signature (known as personal identifiers). You will
be required to provide these again when sending in your postal
vote. The two sets of identifiers will be compared when the
postal votes are opened to ensure they match.
Postal Vote Refresh 2012
At the end of January we will be carrying out a review of all
absent voters (either postal or proxy) whose applications were
submitted before 31st January 2007. We are legally required to
write to all absent voters whose signatures are more than five
years old, asking them to complete an application form providing a
new signature.
Absent voters who have been granted a waiver will not be
affected by the refresh.
If you are an absent voter and your signature is more than five
years old please look out for these forms being delivered to your
home. Please make sure that you complete and return the form as
soon as possible, as we are legally required to send you a
reminder. You can help the Council to save money by replying
promptly; this will save us having to send you a reminder.
If you no longer want to vote by post then please indicate this
on the form, sign it and return to the Elections office.
If we do not receive a completed new form from you, your absent
voting arrangements will be cancelled and you will have to vote in
person at your polling station for future elections.
If you have any queries about the Absent Voter Refresh 2012
please contact our helpline on 01702 318187.