18,000 Electors in Reading Need to Re-apply to Vote by Post

A TOTAL of 18,000 existing postal voters in Reading will need to re-apply for their postal vote this year.

Following changes introduced by the Elections Act 2022, all postal voters are now required to reapply for their postal vote every three years. 

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 a new application is not received by this date, the electoral registration officer is required by law to cancel the postal vote and electors will have to vote at a polling station until a new postal vote application is received, or a proxy is appointed. 

Reading Borough Council’s election team is starting the postal vote re-application process now, giving electors plenty of time to re-apply for their postal vote before the next scheduled election takes place on 7 May 2026.

Electoral Services have this week begun contacting all affected electors, either by email or post, with information on the necessary steps to make a new application. Letters will begin being sent out from today (19 June), but where the Council has been provided with an email address, it will instead be sending emails to reduce both its carbon footprint and the cost of sending letters by post. 

Where an elector is contacted to make a new postal vote application, they need to respond by 21 July 2025 to avoid reminders being sent.

If a new application to vote by post is not made, the current postal vote will be cancelled. For people that have not made a new application, an official removal notice letter shall be despatched in February 2026.

The Elections Act 2022 introduced the following changes for voters who applied for a postal vote after 31 October 2023: 

As part of their application, voters will be required to provide their: 

• Date of birth 

• National Insurance Number 

• A signature. Where voters are unable to provide a signature or a consistent signature, they are asked to contact Electoral Services

• Electors must prove suitable identity as part of the application process. Identity will be verified against records held by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). If this identity check fails, electors must provide evidence of their identity 

• Postal vote applications are now valid for a maximum period of three years and a new application must be made at the end of that time

The quickest and simplest way for electors to make an application is online at www.gov.uk/apply-postal-vote.  Alternatively, electors can complete and return the form included in the email or letter that is being sent out to those electors required to make a new postal application.

Electors are being advised if they no longer wish to vote by post then they should contact elections@reading.gov.uk or write to: Reading Borough Council Electoral Services, Civic Offices, Bridge Street, Reading, RG1 2LU or telephone: 0118 937 3717.