Postal vote handling and secrecy - Changes at this Election
Ban on political campaigners handling postal votes
Political campaigners are banned from handling postal votes, except where the postal vote is their own, that of a close relative, or someone they, or the organisation which employs or engages them, provides regular care for.
A political campaigner is defined on the reverse of the postal vote return form (see below).
A close relative is defined as a spouse, civil partner, parent, grandparent, brother, sister, child, or grandchild. It also includes two people living together as if they were a married couple or civil partners.
Campaigners are permitted to handle postal votes if it is included in the duties of their job or role they hold for example if a campaigner was employed as a postal worker.
Limits on handing in postal votes at polling stations or at the Returning Officer’s office
There are now limits on the number of postal votes a person can hand in at a polling station or at the Returning Officer’s office.
A person can only hand in their own postal vote, plus a maximum of five for other electors at each election.
If a person hands in more than the permitted number, all the postal votes (other than the person’s own postal vote) will be rejected.
Requirement to complete a postal vote return form
Anyone handing in postal votes at either a polling station or the Returning Officer’s office must complete a postal vote return form.
The person handing in the postal vote(s) will need to complete the form with their name, address, and the reason for handing in other people’s postal votes (where applicable). They will need to complete a declaration stating they are not handing in more postal votes than the permitted number.
They will also need to confirm whether they are a political campaigner. If they are a political campaigner, they will only be able to hand in their own, that of a close relative, or someone they provide regular care for.
If the postal vote return form is not satisfactorily completed, the postal vote(s) will be rejected.
Postal votes posted through a letterbox at the Returning Officer's office, or placed in the internal council mail system will be rejected.
Secrecy requirements extended to postal and proxy votes
The secrecy requirements which apply at a polling station have been extended to postal and proxy votes. .
It is an offence to try to find out how someone has voted when completing their postal vote, or to communicate how a postal or proxy voter has voted.
The includes a copy of the secrecy requirements and provides further information.