What is the deadline to apply for a postal vote and when will I receive it?

The UK will soon be voting in the 2024 General Election, on Thursday, July 4.

You can vote if you are aged 18 or over on polling day. You must also be:

• Registered to vote in the constituency

• Be either a British citizen, a qualifying Commonwealth citizen or a citizen of the Republic of Ireland

• And not be subject to any ‘legal incapacity’ to vote

There are a record number of candidates standing at this year's election, a total of 4,515 candidates in the 650 constituencies across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The increase has been led Reform UK ending its promise not to stand against Conservatives, the Green Party entering more candidates and the Workers Party of Britain entering its first general election.

The number is up 36% on the number that stood in the last poll in 2019, which was 3,320.

Everyone who is on the official electoral register has the choice of three voting methods: In person, by post, or by appointing a proxy to vote on their behalf.

Find out when the deadline is to apply for a postal vote.

When is the deadline to apply for a postal vote? 

The deadline to apply for a postal vote is always 5pm, 11 working days before polling day. In the 2024 general election that means 5pm on Wednesday, June 19.

You do not need to give a reason to vote by post (unless you live in Northern Ireland).

Around three weeks before polling day, after the deadline to become a candidate has passed and once the ballot papers are printed, you will be sent a postal vote pack in the post.

You should follow the instructions provided and post your ballot back as soon as possible. If you forget to post your ballot before election day you can hand it in to your local polling station before 10pm on election day. If you do this you will need to complete a form.