Update your signature now to keep your postal vote

Letters have been sent to all residents whose signatures will be over five years old between 31 January 2018 and 30 January 2019. 

The Electoral Registration Officer is required to ask for an updated signature, as they are checked when people complete a postal vote to prevent a vote being made on somebody else's behalf.

Councillor Bob Cook, Leader of Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, said: "By law, residents must update their signatures as they can change over time. This makes sure our records are up to date.

"Many people rely on their right to make a postal vote so I urge everybody affected to provide a new signature as soon as possible."

If a new signature isn't provided within six weeks, the voter will have their postal vote cancelled and they will only be able to vote in person at a polling station. Anybody who has their postal vote cancelled will have to apply for a new one.

Residents who can no longer sign, or can't sign in the same way every time, but still want to vote by post can apply to keep their postal vote without giving a signature.

For more information and to find out how to apply, call the Electoral Services helpline on 01642 526196 or visit Elections and voting.