Voting

If you would prefer to return your ballot paper by post rather than going to the polling station you must apply for a postal vote.

If you vote by post, your poll card will:

• confirm the address where you have asked us to send your postal vote pack
• what to do if you have lost or spoilt all or part of your pack
• if you haven’t received it

Renewing your postal vote

The law covering voting by post changed on 31 October 2023, so i's no longer possible to have a permanent postal vote arrangement. 

The maximum period a postal voting arrangement can last is now 3 years. We'll contact you ahead of the expiry date to let you know to reapply.

You can still choose to vote by post for just one specific election, for a specific period (under 3 years) or for the maximum 3-year period.

Apply for a postal vote

It's now possible to apply to vote by post using the government’s online service or by using a paper form requested from us. However, you must now provide your national insurance number as part of the application. Signatures must still be handwritten, not typed in.

You can send a scanned copy of a paper form by email to electoralservices@sheffield.gov.uk or post the completed form to:

Electoral Services
Town Hall
Pinstone Street
Sheffield
S1 2HH

If you’re too late to post your ballot paper

Take it to your local polling station before it closes or to the Town Hall before 10pm on polling day.

You must complete a form when delivering your postal vote otherwise it will be rejected. One person can hand deliver their own postal vote and up to 5 other electors' postal votes.  

Replacement ballot papers

Contact us to request a replacement ballot paper.

If you spoiled your ballot paper, bring:

• the spoiled paper
• the rest of the ballot pack that was sent to you

You can get a replacement for a lost or spoiled ballot paper up to 5pm on polling day from the Town Hall.