Postal voters urged to reapply

Issued on behalf of the ERO 

 Absent vote reapplication process

The Electoral Registration Officer has been writing to electors across Highland and Western Isles to advise them of the need to reapply for their postal vote for UK Parliament elections.    

The need to reapply is due to changes brought in with the UK Elections Act, and domestic electors must now reapply for their postal vote every three years.   

 Anyone who receives a letter must re-apply by 31 January 2026, otherwise their postal vote will be cancelled. 

  Letters were issued on 28 July 2025 to the following 3 Wards:

• Ward 12 Aird and Loch Ness 

• Ward 13 Inverness West 

• Ward 15 Inverness Ness-side 

 The Electoral Registration Officer will be writing to electors in the following Wards by the end of September 2025:  

25 August 2025 - 

• Ward 16 Inverness Millburn 

• Ward 17 Culloden and Ardersier 

• Ward 18 Nairn and Cawdor 

28 September 2025 - 

• Ward 6 Cromarty Firth 

• Ward 10 Eilean a' Cheò 

• Ward 19 Inverness South 

Frank Finlayson, Electoral Registration Officer for Highland and Western Isles, said: “Anyone living in these wards who is use to voting by post should keep an eye out for the letter we are sending them. It’s very important that they complete and returns the form as if they don’t reapply they will find their postal vote is cancelled.”   

Further information on the postal vote reapplication process can be found here 

You can also call the Electoral Registration Office on 0800 393 783 for further information.