Time running out to register for a postal vote in next months elections

The elections take place on Thursday 5 May

The deadline to register for a postal vote in the local council elections in May is less than a week away.

A postal vote is the opportunity to vote by post rather that visiting the polling station on election day, and applications for a postal vote close at 5pm on Tuesday 19 April.

Anybody can have a postal vote.  You can apply because you’re away on holiday or because your work schedule means you can't get to polling station. You can also choose to vote by post simply because it would be more convenient for you.

Postal vote packs will be sent out around ten days before the ballot, and must be returned before 10pm on polling day.

If you have applied for a postal vote, you will receive a voting pack in the post including instructions on how to vote.

Your vote can be posted to Elections Office, Oldham Council, West Street, Oldham, OL1 1UL or sent in by email election@oldham.gov.uk.  You can also hand in your postal vote to the council on polling day.

Tips on how to keep your postal vote safe

• Put them somewhere safe
• Don't let anyone else handle them
• Don't give the ballot paper to anyone else
• Put the ballot paper in the envelope and seal it up yourself
• Complete and sign the postal voting statement
• Put the postal voting statement and the envelope containing your ballot paper into the larger supplied envelope and seal it.
• Take it to the post box yourself, if you can
• If you can't do that, either give it to somebody you know and trust to post it for you, or ring your local elections team, to ask if they can collect it from you
• Don't hand it to a candidate or party worker unless no other way is practical
• Don't leave it where someone else can pick it up

You can apply for a postal vote here. 

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