16,000 Island Voters Must Reapply Or Risk Losing Postal Vote

Around 16,000 postal voters on the Isle of Wight will need to reapply for their postal vote due to changes brought in by the Elections Act 2022, which requires postal votes to be renewed every three years.

Anyone who applied for their current postal vote before 30 January 2024 must submit a new application by 31 January 2026.

If they don’t, their postal vote will be cancelled and they will need to vote in person until a new application is made.

The Isle of Wight Council’s Electoral Services team will contact everyone affected in the coming weeks.

• Voters with an email address on record will receive an email from electoral.services@iow.gov.uk.

• Others will receive a letter with instructions on how to reapply.

Residents are being urged to reapply as soon as possible to avoid delays ahead of future elections.

How to Reapply

The quickest way is online via GOV.UK. Applicants will need:

• Date of birth

• National Insurance number

• A photo or scan of their handwritten signature (black ink on white paper)

Identity will be checked against DWP records. If it cannot be verified, voters will need to provide additional proof.

Under the new rules, postal votes now expire on 31 January of the third year after approval.

The next scheduled elections are in May 2026, but early reapplication is recommended in case of unscheduled polls.

For help or to request a paper form, email electoral.services@iow.gov.uk or call 823380.