Chesterfield Borough Council is urging postal voters to reapply by the end of January or risk losing the ability to vote by post.
Anyone who has been registered for a postal vote since before 2024 must reapply by 31 January 2026 to ensure they don’t lose the right to vote by post.
This requirement is because of changes introduced as part of the Elections Act 2022, including that all postal voters are required to reapply every three years, suitable identification must be provided as part of the application process and voters can apply for a postal vote online.
All residents who are impacted by these changes have already been sent either a letter or email asking them to reapply– but almost 10,000 people registered locally have yet to take action.
Councillor Judy Staton, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for governance, said: “We know lots of people prefer postal voting and for some it is essential but due to changes in the law, you do need to reapply to keep your postal vote. By reapplying now, you can save yourself from needing to apply again when the next election happens.”
If a resident does not reapply, they will have their postal vote removed – they can still apply for a postal vote ahead of any future elections, but they will need to go through the full application process.
Details of how to reapply were included on the letters and emails sent to residents. It is a simple process that will only take a few minutes.
To begin the reapplication process visit: www.chesterfield.gov.uk/your-council/elections-and-voting/registering-to-vote/voting-by-post-or-proxy/reapplying-for-a-postal-vote
Anyone registering will be required to provide their date of birth and National Insurance Number and is required to upload a photograph of their signature.
If someone is unable to complete their application online, they can request a paper copy by emailing elections@chesterfield.gov.uk or calling the electoral services team on 01246 345402.
