Important changes to postal voting

12.46.25pm GMT Fri 12th Jan 2007

Brighton & Hove City Council has begun implementing new legislation which requires all postal voters to provide a signature and date of birth, to make their ballot more secure.

Letters are going out today to some 33,000 city residents explaining new regulations to make postal and absent voting more secure at elections.

These new regulations will take effect for the city council elections being held on Thursday 3 May.

A change in the law this year means postal voters now have to provide their date of birth and a specimen of their signature. These will be stored securely and will be used to check identity each time people vote by post.

The letters, which include pre-paid envelopes and date of birth / specimen signature forms, are being sent out by the council's electoral services office. The deadline for returning the forms is 23 February.

There are certain exemptions for people with some disabilities, or if you are unable to read or write.

For further information about postal voting please call the city council's electoral services hotline on 01273 291999, or email electors@brighton-hove.gov.uk.