Voting by post
Voting by post is an easy and convenient way of voting if you cannot get to your polling station on polling day.
We must receive your application by post or email by 5pm 11 working days before the date of poll to ensure you are able to vote by post.
Postal vote application form
You must print out the application and complete by hand. Then scan this back to elections@stroud.gov.uk or post to the address below. We cannot accept a form with an electronic signature.
The postal address is:
Democratic Services and Elections
Stroud District Council
Ebley Mill
Ebley Wharf
Stroud
GL5 4UB
When voting by post we will send you a postal voting statement and your ballot paper(s) to the address you have requested. You are required to provide your date of birth and signature on the postal vote statement which you must return with your ballot papers. We check this information against the information you supply on your application form to make sure that no one else can use your vote.
Postal ballot papers are usually delivered 2 weeks before an election. If you will be on holiday or out of the country, we would strongly recommend that you nominate a proxy instead of voting by post.
Postal ballots can only be sent out once the deadline to become a candidate has passed and the ballot papers have subsequently been produced and printed. You can contact the Elections Office by emailing elections@stroud.gov.uk or phoning 01453 766321 to find out when your postal ballot papers will be issued.
Once you've got it, mark your vote on the ballot paper and make sure you send it back so that it arrives by 10pm on the day of the election or referendum. If it arrives later than this, your vote won't be counted.
1. When you get your postal voting papers
- Put them somewhere safe
- Don't let anyone else handle them
- Make sure they are not left where someone else can pick them up
2. When you want to vote
- Complete your ballot paper in secret, on your own
- Don't let anyone else vote for you
- Don't let anyone else see your vote
- Don't give the ballot paper to anyone else
- Put the ballot paper in the envelope and seal it up yourself
- Complete and sign the postal voting statement
- Put the postal voting statement and the envelope containing your ballot paper into the larger supplied envelope and seal it.
3. When you return your postal vote
- Take it to the post box yourself, if you can
- If you can't do that, either give it to somebody you know and trust to post it for you
- Don't hand it to a candidate or party worker unless no other way is practical
- Don't leave it where someone else can pick it up