Just over 5,000 Isle of Wight voters are about to get a letter from the Isle of Wight Council saying their postal vote has been cancelled.
This follows a campaign to remind postal voters that they had to reapply for their mail ballot and this led to Isle of Wight Council’s Elections Team processing more than 10,000 postal vote re-applications in recent months.
Postal votes must be renewed every three years
The Elections Act 2022 now requires postal votes to be renewed every three years. All postal voters who made their current application before 30th January 2024 were required to reapply for their postal vote by 31st January 2026.
If a new application was not received by this date the Electoral Registration Officer is required by law to cancel the postal vote, and electors will have to vote in person at a polling station until a new postal vote application is received or if a proxy is appointed.
Drop in postal voters similar to Mainland
It is understood that the drop in the number of postal voters on the Isle of Wight is similar to that experienced by local authorities on the Mainland.
Isle of Wight Council’s Electoral Services Team have sent out emails and letters to the 2025 list of postal voters. An application form was sent to those who had not renewed by mid-December that they could complete and return if they were unable to renew their postal vote online.
Reapply for a postal vote
A reminder that the quickest and easiest way to reapply for a postal vote is on the GOV.UK postal vote website.
As part of the application, voters will be required to provide their:
- Date of birth
- National Insurance Number
- Upload a photo or scanned copy of your handwritten signature in black ink on plain white paper.
Electors must prove suitable identity as part of the application process. Identities will be verified against records held by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). If this identity check fails, voters have to provide evidence of their identity.
Text of letter now being sent to voters that did not reapply for their postal vote
I am writing with regards to our recent communication about renewing your postal vote. As I had not received a valid fresh application by 31st January your postal vote has now expired.
To vote at future elections you will either need to attend your polling station or make a new application for an absent vote, which must include your personal identifiers of your Date of Birth and your Signature.
Find out more
If you do wish to make a new application please visit the website. As part of your application, you will be required to upload a photo of your handwritten signature in black ink on plain white paper.
If you are not able to complete an application using the online service, please contact the elections office or complete and return the enclosed form to the above address.
Your normal polling station is:
A new application form is enclosed should you wish to re‑apply.
News shared by Isle of Wight council press office, in their own words. Ed
