postal vote uk (Image: Getty)
The day of the 2024 General Election has now arrived - and millions of postal voters will be trudging down to the polling station to cast their votes.
But not everyone needs to turn up at the ballot box today as many will have submitted applications for proxy votes or postal votes.
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Postal votes are an easy and convenient way to make sure our voices are heard, especially if you knew you woulddn't make it to your local polling station in time.
But what happens if you forgot to pop to a post box and send your vote in, ahead of the big day? Have you lost the opportunity to have your say in who runs the country? Or can you still dash down to a booth, scribble a cross and cast your vote the traditional way?
Express Politics explains what happens now and what you should do to make sure your vote is cast.
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Is it too late to post my postal vote?
Postal votes must arrive by 10pm on election day, so at this point it will be too late to pop yours in the post box.
But the gov.uk website has some good news for you - you can still vote but there's an extra step you must take. It explains: "If you’re too late to post your ballot paper, take it to your local polling station by 10pm on election day, or Electoral Registration Office before it closes.
"If you are voting in Northern Ireland, you can only hand in your postal vote at an Electoral Registration Office.
"Your vote will be rejected if you do not give your ballot paper to a member of staff at the polling station or Electoral Registration Office and complete a form. Do not post your ballot paper through the letterbox of the Electoral Registration Office.
"You can hand in your own postal vote and postal votes for up to 5 other voters. If you are a political campaigner, the 5 other voters must be family members or people you provide regular care for."
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But what if you've lost or damaged your ballot paper? Well all hope still isn't lost - but you'll really have to get a wriggle on if you still want to vote. When it comes to replacing a lost or damaged ballot paper, the goiv,UK website says: "Your ballot paper needs to clearly display your details and voting choice. If it has been damaged you need to get another one.
"You can either:
ask your local Electoral Registration Office to post a replacement
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collect a replacement from your local Electoral Registration Office up to 5pm on election day (or the day before in Northern Ireland)
"You cannot vote at a polling station if you registered to vote by post but your ballot paper was lost or damaged."
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