PRIME Minister Rishi Sunak has confirmed a snap election will take place on July 4.
For many people in Scotland, this falls during the summer holidays, when many people might not be home.
A postal vote allows you to vote without having to go to the polling station on election day, making it the ideal option for those who know they will not be able to make it but would still like to vote.
READ MORE: Rishi Sunak confirms July General Election after intense speculation
With a postal vote you can vote ahead of election day, and you do not have to give a reason to be eligible to apply.
You must first be registered to vote before you can apply for a postal vote.
How to apply for a postal vote
- Visit
mygov.scot/apply-postal-vote to download an application form. If you cannot print the application form, you can ask your local Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) to send you one. Check contact details for your local ERO here.
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Once you have completed your application, you can either post it to your local ERO or email a photo of it to your local ERO If you have any difficulties filling out the form, you should contact your local registration office.
If you have any difficulties filling out the form, you should contact your local registration office.
How to fill out a postal vote
- When you receive your postal voting pack, check the contents carefully. Inside your pack, there should be: instructions about how to cast your vote and how to return the postal vote; a postal voting statement; envelope A for your completed ballot paper; return envelope B; the ballot paper or papers for the elections taking place.
- Complete the postal voting statement carefully following the instructions.
- Read the instructions on the ballot paper carefully. Some elections use different voting systems, so you need to make sure you fill in each ballot paper correctly.
- Complete your ballot paper. Make sure you do it alone and in secret. Don't write anything else on the paper, or your vote may not be counted.
- Put your ballot paper in the smaller envelope marked A.
- Put your postal voting statement and the ballot paper envelope into the return envelope marked B, and seal it. Make sure the return address is clear.
- Put your postal vote somewhere safe until you're ready to post it.
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