Postal vote renewal

Postal voters are required to reapply for their postal vote every 3 years or their application will automatically expire.

All postal voters who made their current application before 31 October 2023 are required to reapply for their postal vote by 31 January 2026 if they wish to continue to vote by post.

Reapply for postal voting

The quickest and easiest way to reapply for a postal vote is online.

What you need to apply

During the application, you are required to upload a photo of your handwritten signature in black ink on plain white paper. 

You’ll also need your National Insurance Number to verify your identity.

If you’re unable to provide a signature, or a consistent signature (due to a disability or inability to read or write), but still want to vote by post, you can apply for a postal vote without giving your signature. This option is available online. If you require more information about how to apply in this way, please contact us.

If you can’t apply online

Whilst the quickest and easiest way to reapply for your postal vote is online, we know that this may not be possible for everyone. If you need to, you can apply with a paper application form.

If you require a paper application form, please get in touch with us.

How we’ll contact you

We will contact you if you need to reapply. However, you don’t need to wait until we contact you and can reapply at any time before 31 January 2026.

There are two ways in which we will contact you:

If we hold an email address for you

An email will be sent with details of how to renew your postal vote application.

Here's how to ensure our emails can be identified as genuine:

  • the email title will be “Postal Vote Reapplication”
  • it will be sent from “Electoral Services – Sheffield City Council”

It will also have the following address (which is handled by the GOV.UK notify system):

electoral.services.sheffield.city.council@notifications.service.gov.uk

If we don’t hold an email address for you

We’ll contact you by post ahead of the deadline.

It’s possible that members of the same household will receive their reapplication invitation at different times. This is dependent on whether an email address is held and when the original postal vote applications were made.

We’re using emails to reduce the cost of obtaining information from our residents. Please help us by responding to our request for information as soon as possible.

If you no longer want to vote by post

If you no longer wish to vote by post, contact us to let us know so that we can remove your postal vote arrangements. 

If you haven’t made a new application or contacted us by 31 January 2026, your postal vote will be automatically cancelled.

Contact Electoral Services

Town Hall
Pinstone Street
Sheffield
S1 2HH

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