News from: Reading Borough Council
The rules for postal votes have changed. Now, if you want to vote by post, you have to apply every three years. The deadline to reapply is 31 January 2026. Before, you could keep your postal vote forever – you just had to update your signature every five years. About 18,000 people in Reading need to reapply if they want to vote by post in next May’s local elections. So far, only half of them have done it and around 9,000 people still need to reapply.
Reading Borough Council has written to everyone who needs to reapply at least twice this year. If they have an email address, people have been sent at least three messages. The most recent reminder was sent on 9 October by email and letter.
The easiest way to reapply for a postal vote is to go online to www.gov.uk/apply-postal-vote.
If you can’t use the internet, you can contact the elections team:
-Phone: 01189 373717
-Email: elections@reading.gov.uk
They will send you a paper form.
If you’ve decided you don’t want to vote by post, let the council know using the contact details provided above or write to: Reading Borough Council, Electoral Services, Civic Offices, Bridge Street, Reading, RG1 2LU