The Electoral Register
The canvass for the Electoral Register takes place between 1 September and 1 December each year. A new Register is published on 1 December.
If you are not registered or if you change address during the course of the year, you can apply to register at your current address at any time. The date at which you will be added to the Register depends on the point in the month at which you apply. Normally it will take between two and six weeks. Special rules apply during the canvass period and election periods.
Absent Votes (Postal votes / proxy votes)
Electors have a right to vote by post which can be exercised by completing the relevant form. No reason need be given nor is it necessary to wait until an election is called to make an application. Applicants are required to provide "Personal Identifiers" (signature and date of birth) to ensure the security of their vote. Special arrangements are in place for those unable to sign in a consistent fashion. (See Forms and Publications).
Voters may also arrange to vote by proxy whereby another person is authorised to vote on their behalf. Personal Identifiers are also required for proxy voters. (See Forms and Publications).
Further details can be obtained by contacting the Electoral Registration Officer’s Freefone number 0800 393783.
The Right to Vote
The right to vote is summarised below. The distinction between parliamentary and local government elections is important as the regimes differ.
Parliamentary and local government franchise
Parliamentary electors
A person is entitled to vote as an elector at a United Kingdom parliamentary election in any constituency if on the date of the poll he –
- is registered in the register of parliamentary electors for that constituency;
- is not subject to any legal incapacity to vote (age apart);
- is either a qualifying Commonwealth citizen or a citizen of the Republic of Ireland; and
- is of voting age (that is, 18 years or over).
A person is not entitled to vote as an elector –
- more than once in the same constituency at any parliamentary election; or
- in more than one constituency at a general election.
Local government electors (who may also vote in European and Scottish Parliamentary Elections)
A person is entitled to vote as an elector at a local government election in any electoral area if on the date of the poll he –
- is registered in the register of local government electors for that area;
- is not subject to any legal incapacity to vote (age apart);
- is a qualifying Commonwealth citizen, a citizen of the Republic of Ireland or a citizen of the European Union (EU citizens wishing to vote in European Parliamentary elections in the UK must complete the relevant form); and
- is of voting age (that is, 18 years or over).
A person is not entitled to vote as an elector –
- more than once in the same electoral area at any local government election; or
- in more than one electoral area at an ordinary election for a local government area which is not a single electoral area.
Entitlement to be Registered
A person is entitled to be registered in the register of parliamentary electors for any constituency or part of a constituency if on the relevant date he –
- is resident in the constituency or that part of it;
is not subject to any legal incapacity to vote (age apart);
- is either a qualifying Commonwealth citizen or a citizen of the Republic of Ireland; and
- is of voting age.
A person is entitled to be registered in the register of local government electors for any electoral area if on the relevant date he –
- is resident in that area;
- is not subject to any legal incapacity vote (age apart);
- is a qualifying Commonwealth citizen, a citizen of the Republic of Ireland or a citizen of the European Union; and
- is of voting age.
If your name is not on the Electoral Register and you think it should be, complete an Application to Register form. (See Forms and Publications)
Persons under the Age of 18
While no-one can vote until they are eighteen, names can be added to the Register showing their date of birth up to two years before they achieve voting age. They may not legally vote before their 18th birthday.
Special Registration Arrangements
Special arrangements apply to registration of British citizens who live abroad and to Service personnel, Crown servants and homeless persons. For details please use the Freefone or e-mail facilities.
European Union Members States
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Eire, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the UK.
Commonwealth and Dependent Territories
Commonwealth
Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, the Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Brunei, Cameroon, Canada, Cyprus, Dominica, Fiji, the Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Saint Christopher and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Kingdom, Vanuatu, Western Samoa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Dependent Territories
Anguilla, Bermuda, British Antartic Territory, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands and Dependencies (South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands), Gibraltar, Montserrat, The Pitcairn Islands, St Helena and Dependencies (Ascension and Tristan da Cunha) and Turks and Caicos Islands.
In addition, any previous resident of Hong Kong who holds a British Dependent Territories, British Nationals (Overseas) or British Overseas passport also meets the nationality criteria for all elections in the UK.