Changes to postal vote handling and secrecy
Limits on handing in postal votes at polling stations
We encourage postal voters to return their postal vote via the Royal Mail system in plenty of time.
There will be a limit on the number of postal votes a person can hand in at a polling station - they will not be allowed to hand in more than five postal ballot packs for other electors plus their own.
If a person hands in more than five postal ballot packs for other electors, all 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 postal votes on any previous occasion at the election, any subsequent postal votes handed in will be rejected.
Completion of postal vote return form
Anyone handing in postal votes will need to complete a postal vote return form. The person handing in the postal vote(s) will need to complete the form with their name, address and the reason for handing in other people's postal votes. They will also need to complete a declaration that they are not handing in more than the permitted number and that they are not a political campaigner.
If the form is not completed with all the required information, the postal vote(s) will be rejected. Rejected postal votes will not be included in the count. After the election, the Electoral Registration Officer will write to electors who have had their postal votes rejected, and explain why they have been rejected.
Ban on political campaigners handling postal votes
Political campaigners will be banned from handling postal votes, except where the postal vote is their own, that of a close family member, or someone they provide regular care for.
They are not banned from handling postal votes if they do so in the course of their usual duties (for example, if they work for Royal Mail).
A political campaigner is defined in legislation as:
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a candidate at the election
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an election agent of a candidate at the election
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a sub-agent of an election agent at the election
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employed or engaged for the purposes of that person’s activities as a candidate
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a member of a registered political party and carries on an activity designed to promote a particular outcome at the election
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employed or engaged by a registered political party in connection with the party's political activities
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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
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employed or engaged by a person within paragraph (g) to carry on 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 up to two years.
Secrecy requirements extended to postal and proxy votes
The secrecy requirements which apply at a polling station are being extended to postal and proxy votes.
It will be an offence to try to 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 up to six months.