Postal Vote Handling and Secrecy

From 2 May 2024, restrictions on the handling of postal votes by campaigners and voters will apply.

The term 'postal vote(s)' refers to a postal voting document such as a postal ballot paper, postal voting statement or other document that has been issued to a person for the purpose of enabling the person to vote by post at a relevant election.

Ban on political campaigners handling postal votes

Political campaigners will be banned from handling postal votes except when:

the postal vote is their own, or
that of a close family member (two people living together as if they were a married couple, or civil partners are treated as close relatives), or
it is for someone they provide regular care for

The ban does not apply if they would handle postal votes in the course of their usual duties e.g. if they work for Royal Mail.

A political campaigner is defined in legislation as:

a) a candidate at the election
b) an election agent of a candidate at the election
c) a sub-agent of an election agent at the election
d) a person employed or engaged for the purpose of that person's activities as a candidate
e) a member of a registered political party and who carries on an activity designed to promote a particular outcome at the election - this includes displaying posters, distributing leaflets, posting promotional material on social media and canvassing
f) a person employed or engaged by a registered political party in connection with the party's political activities
g) a person employed or engaged by a person within paragraphs (a) to (f) to carry on an activity designed to promote a particular outcome at the election
h) a person employed or engaged by a person within paragraph (g) to carry out an activity designed to promote a particular outcome at the election

If found guilty of handling postal votes as a campaigner, a person could face a fine and/or imprisonment of up to 2 years.

The ban does not apply to handling postal vote applications, however political campaigners should follow the guidance issued by the Electoral Commission.

Campaigners should send any sealed completed absent vote applications which voters have given them on the doorstep to the Electoral Registration Officer at Breckland Council's office in Dereham within two working days of receipt and before the statutory deadlines. If a voter asks a campaigner to take their completed absent vote form and return it to the Electoral Registration Officer, you should ensure that the voter has sealed the form in an envelope before taking it.

The Electoral Commission has produced theCode of Conduct for Campaigners at UK Parliamentary general elections in Great Britain, local elections in England and Police and Crime Commissioner Elections (opens new window).

Limits on hand delivering completed postal votes

The number of completed postal votes a person can hand deliver is limited to their own plus no more than 5 for other electors.

Where the elector has been appointed as a postal proxy for another elector - handing in the completed postal vote would count towards one of the 5 for other electors.

If a person hands in more than 5 completed postal votes for other electors, all of the postal votes (other than their own) will be rejected.

If there is reason to suspect a person has already handed in the maximum number of completed postal votes on a previous occasion at the election then any subsequent completed postal votes handed in will be rejected.

Completing the postal vote return form

Anyone who hand delivers a completed postal vote(s) will need to complete a Postal Vote Return Form (PDF, 149 KB)(opens new window).

The person who hand delivers the completed postal vote(s) will need to complete the form with their name and address and confirm:

if they are handing in their own and/or other people's completed votes
whether they are a political campaigner
the number of completed postal votes being handed in

If the form is not completed with all the required information or to the Returning Officer's satisfaction then the completed postal vote(s) will be rejected.

Rejected postal votes will not be included in the count.

Completed postal votes must not be posted through the Council's letterbox or be delivered via the Council's internal mail system.

Completed postal votes left by voters without completing the postal vote return form

Completed postal votes will be rejected if they are left at a Polling Station or any Council building without a completed postal vote return form.

Secrecy requirements extended to postal and proxy voting

The secrecy requirements which apply at a Polling Station have been extended to postal and proxy votes.

It will be an offence to try and find out how someone has voted when completing their postal vote or to communicate how a postal or proxy voter has voted.

Anyone found guilty of breaching the secrecy requirements could face a fine or imprisonment of up to 6 months.