Postal Vote Renewals Now Required Every Three Years - Torridge Voters Urged to Reapply Early

Torridge District Council is reminding residents that postal votes must now be renewed every three years to remain valid. This means that anyone who applied for a postal vote before 31 October 2023 will see their vote expire on 31 January 2026. To continue voting by post, affected voters must reapply before this date.

Over 8,000 postal voters in Torridge will be contacted between August and December 2025 with instructions on how to renew. Communications will be sent either by letter or email, depending on the contact details the Council has on file. If you receive an email, it will come from elections.torridgedc@notifications.service.gov.uk with the subject line 'Postal Vote Renewal'.

Renewing your postal vote is quick and easy. You can apply online at www.gov.uk/apply-postal-vote. You'll need your National Insurance number, date of birth, and a digital signature. If you prefer to use a paper form, you can request one from the Council's Electoral Services Team.

Please note that members of the same household may receive different types of communication depending on whether an email address is registered. If no renewal application is received by 31 January 2026, your postal vote will be cancelled. Reminder messages will be sent closer to the deadline to help ensure no one misses out.

Councillor Simon Newton, Lead Member for Legal & Democratic Support, said:

"We want to ensure that everyone who wishes to vote by post can continue to do so without interruption. This change is part of a national effort to keep voter records up to date and secure. We understand that renewing may feel like an extra step, but it's a simple process and we're here to help. Whether you prefer to apply online or request a paper form, our team is ready to support you. Please don't wait until the last minute—renew early and make sure your voice continues to be heard.

If you need help or have questions, please contact the Torridge Elections Team by email at elections@torridge.gov.uk or call 01237 428739."

Aug 25