READING Borough Council has warned that half of the town’s postal voters are at risk of losing the chance to vote by post.
Changes introduced by the Elections Act 2022 mean postal voters are required to reapply for their postal vote every three years.
Previously postal votes could last indefinitely, with the main requirement to provide an updated signature every five years.
This means that around 18,000 electors in Reading needed to renew their postal vote to be able to vote by post in next May’s local election–so far, 9,086 are yet to renew.
Reading Borough Council has already contacted all postal vote electors who need to reapply at least twice this year.
Where an email address is held, residents have had at least 3 notifications, including recently on 9 October where email and printed reminder letters were sent out.
Electors are being advised if they no longer wish to vote by post they should contact the council.
Mike Graham, Electoral Registration Officer at Reading Borough Council, said:
“It’s concerning that there are currently over 9,000 electors in Reading who could be waiting for a postal vote for next year’s local elections that may never arrive.
“The Council is working hard to make contact with all of these postal voters, either by post or by email, or both. There are just over three months left now before these postal votes will be cancelled, so residents are urged to look out for emails and letters from the Council – including those that have already been sent – and act now.
“Any resident who does not reapply in time can of course vote in person at their local polling station, but we know many residents prefer the ease and speed of voting by post.”
The quickest and simplest way for electors to reapply is online at gov.uk/apply-postal-vote.
Alternatively, if an elector is unable make an online application, they can contact the elections team and request a form to be posted to them.
Electoral Services can be contacted by phone on 0118 937 3717 or by email at elections@reading.gov.uk.
