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Part of Vote in UK elections

Register to vote

You can use this service to:

  • get on the electoral register so you can vote in elections and referendums in the UK
  • opt out of the open register - the version of the electoral register thats available for anyone to buy (if you live in the UK)
  • update your name, address or nationality by registering again with your new details (if you live in the UK)

Theres a different process to register anonymously, for example if youre concerned about your safety or the safety of someone in your household.

You can check if youre already registered to vote by contacting your electoral registration office.

This service is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

Register online

You normally only need to register once - not for every election. Youll need to register again if youve changed your name, address or nationality.

It usually takes about 5 minutes.

Start now

Before you start

Youll be asked for your National Insurance number (but you can still register if you do not have one).

Find your National Insurance number.

Who can register to vote

You can register to vote up to 2 years before you reach voting age - check the rules around voting in the UK.

If you live in England or Northern Ireland

You must be aged 16 or over to register.

You can register to vote if youre a British citizen or an Irish citizen.

You can also register if you have permission (or do not need permission) to enter or stay in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man and youre:

  • a Commonwealth citizen (including citizens of Cyprus and Malta)
  • a citizen of Denmark, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal or Spain
  • a citizen of another EU country, who on or before 31 December 2020 had permission to enter or stay (or did not need permission) and this has continued without a break

If you live in Scotland or Wales

You must be aged 14 or over to register.

You can register to vote if youre a British citizen or an Irish citizen.

You can also register if you have permission to enter or stay in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man, or you do not need permission.

If you live abroad

You can register as an overseas voter if youve previously lived in the UK and are either:

  • a British citizen

  • an eligible Irish citizen registering to vote in Northern Ireland

Youll need to give the postcode of the last UK address you were registered to vote at.

If youve never registered to vote, youll need to give the postcode of the last UK address you lived at.

Contact your electoral registration office if you cannot remember which address you were last registered at.

You may also be asked for your passport details.

Youll need to renew your registration to vote from abroad every 3 years.

Theres a different way to register as an overseas voter if youre:

Find out more about voting if you move or live abroad.

Register using a paper form

You can register using a paper form in England, Wales and Scotland.

Youll need to print, fill in and send the form to your electoral registration office.

Theres a different paper form if youre registering in Northern Ireland. Return the form to the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland (EONI).

Get help registering

You can get help registering from your electoral registration office.

Theres an easy read guide about registering to vote.

After youve registered

Your name and address will appear on the electoral register. It will also appear on the open register unless you asked to opt out when registering.

You can then:

This page is Part of Vote in UK elections

  1. Step 1 Check if you can vote

    1. Check which elections you can vote in

  2. Step 2 Register to vote

    Youll need to be registered to vote to take part in elections and referendums. Youll need to register again if you change your name, address or nationality.

    1. You are currently viewing: Register to vote - apply online
    1. Register to vote - apply by post

  3. Step 3 Decide if you want to vote in person, by post, or by proxy

    1. Find out the different ways you can vote

  4. Step 4 Get ready to vote in person

    1. Check what ID you need to vote

    If you do not have photo ID that allows you to vote, you can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate (or an Electoral Identity Card in Northern Ireland) .

    1. Apply for a photo ID to vote

    Contact your electoral registration office to find your polling station or to find out what to do if you have accessibility needs.

    1. Contact your electoral registration office

  5. or Apply for a postal vote

    In England, Scotland or Wales:

    1. Apply in Northern Ireland - by post only
    1. Find out more about voting by post

  6. or Apply for a proxy vote

    In England, Scotland or Wales:

    1. Apply in Northern Ireland - by post only
    1. Find out more about voting by proxy - including when you must apply by

  7. or Get ready to vote as a proxy

    1. Check what ID you need to vote

    Contact the electoral registration office of the person you are a proxy for to find their polling station or to find out what to do if you have accessibility issues.

    1. Contact the electoral registration office

  8. Step 5 Vote in person

    1. Vote in person

  9. or Vote by post

    1. Vote by post

  10. or Vote as a proxy for someone else

    1. Vote as a proxy for someone else
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