Monday 28 September 2020
More than 21,000 people have registered for postal voting for the General Election.
The figure dwarfs the almost 2,000 who registered for postal voting for the 2016 election, as the electorate prepare for island-wide voting.
Postal voting packs will be delivered this week to those who registered. Packs have already been sent to UK and overseas addresses. Those registered for postal voting are asked not to contact the election office unless they have not received their postal vote by Friday.
An animation will be published on the States of Guernsey's website and social media accounts shortly to explain how postal vote ballots need to be completed and returned.
Key information for postal voters includes:
- If you have registered for a postal vote you must use your postal vote - you will not be issued with a ballot paper in a polling station.
- Completed postal votes should be returned by post.
- However, if you miss the return postal deadline your postal vote can be dropped off to any polling station on 7 October before 8pm. If this is necessary, your pack must be completed as per the instructions in the postal pack and then hand delivered to a member of the Polling Station Team. You must not put your postal vote into the ballot box.
- Your postal vote pack must be returned by 8pm on 7 October. Please check postal collection times to ensure your pack arrives before the deadline.
- You don't have to use all 38 votes. You can vote for as many as you want to up to a maximum of 38. But if you vote for more than 38 your entire ballot paper will be spoilt and your votes won't count.
Colette Falla, Registrar-General of Electors, said:
"It is a success story that so many people have opted to register for postal votes. This will naturally reduce demand at polling stations and help make the process as smooth as possible given the numbers involved. It is a significant logistical task to issue more than 21,000 postal voting forms and I'm pleased that this process has begun, with Guernsey Post ready to begin delivering them this week."
