Residents in Powys who vote by post are being urged to reapply to ensure they can continue using postal voting, following changes introduced by the UK Government.

Under the Elections Act 2022, postal vote arrangements now last for a maximum of three years. Anyone who applied for a postal vote before 31 October 2023 must submit a new application by 31 January 2026 to continue voting by post in future elections.

Emma Palmer, Electoral Registration Officer at Powys County Council, encouraged residents to act early: “We know many people in Powys rely on postal voting for convenience or accessibility. These changes are designed to improve the security of the voting process, but they do mean that voters need to take action to avoid losing their postal vote.”

To reapply, voters will need to provide their date of birth, National Insurance number, and a handwritten signature. Applications can be made online at www.gov.uk/apply-postal-vote or via paper form, which can be downloaded from the Powys County Council website.

Affected residents will be contacted by email or letter over the coming months. Officials are encouraging those able to apply online to do so to help reduce the cost of reminder letters, while recognising that some voters will continue to prefer paper applications.

If a new application is not received by the deadline, the postal vote will be cancelled, and voters will need to attend their local polling station unless a new application is submitted.

Residents are advised not to wait for a reminder and to reapply as soon as possible to ensure their vote is protected.

If you are in any doubt about the postal vote application process, contact Powys County Council’s Electoral Services team for assistance and enquiries at [email protected] or 01597 826202.