The figure dwarfs the 2,000 who registered for postal voting at the 2016 district-based election.

Postal voting packs are being delivered this week to those who registered, while packs have already been sent to UK and overseas addresses. All of the packs are expected to arrive by Friday. 

An animation has been published explaining how postal vote ballots need to be completed and returned.

Some of they key points are that:

  • Those who have registered for a postal vote will not be issued with a ballot paper if they turn up at a polling station.

  • Your postal vote pack must be received by the election team by 20:00 on Wednesday 7 October.

  • However, if you miss the return postal deadline your can hand-deliver your postal vote to any polling station.

  • You don’t have to use all 38 votes. However, 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 the surge in postal voting will ease demand at the polling stations. 

“It is a success story that so many people have opted to register for postal vote,” she said. “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.”