Pilot schemes have shown increased voter participation

Local Government Minister Nick Raynsford told MPs this would "significantly increase" voter participation.

People living in the North East, North West and Yorkshire and the Humber will be given the chance to have their say on proposals for their own regional government in autumn next year.

The decision to use postal voting came after a series of successful pilot schemes during the local elections in May which saw participation in some areas rise to nearly 50% against a national average of 35%.

Referendum countdown... June 2003: John Prescott announces the governments' regional assembly proposals September 2004: Draft bill outlining assembly powers is expected October 2004: Referendums expected in Yorkshire, the North West and North East

Mr Raynsford told the House of Commons on Wednesday: "It is clear that all-postal ballots can significantly increase levels of participation in elections."

The powers of the assemblies have yet to be fixed, but are likely to include economic development, planning and housing, with the first assembly potentially up and running soon after the next general election.

They would be able to raise money through council tax and borrowing, but delivery of local services would be left to local councils.

In June, a telephone vote by 9,821 viewers of BBC Look North in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, revealed 92.4% were against a directly elected body for the region.