Register to vote

Who can register to vote?

You can’t vote in an election unless you have registered to do so. If you don’t register, you can’t vote - it’s as simple as that.

The following people are eligible to register to vote:

• Anyone aged 16 or over (but you cannot vote until you are 18)
  
• British or qualifying Commonwealth citizens (those citizens who have been granted entry to the UK (for a limited period only) and those that have an unrestricted right to live in the UK): 
  Commonwealth member countries (external website)
• Citizens of the Republic of Ireland or other European Union (EU) member states:
  GOV.UK - Countries in the EU and EEA (external website).

Special circumstances

You can also register to vote if you: 

• have two or more homes in the UK 
  
• are a student 
  
• are in the armed forces 
  
• live overseas.

Please note: there are certain qualifying criteria for who can vote at what elections

How do I register to vote?

Online registration

The way we all register to vote has changed. You can now register to vote online and everyone from the age of 16 is responsible for registering themselves:

GOV.UK - Register to vote (external website)  

You will need:

• your national insurance number (which can be found on your national insurance card, or in official paperwork such as payslips, or letters about benefits or tax credits) 
  
• your name and address 
  
• your date of birth.

If you are unable to register online, please contact the electoral services team. 

About the new voting system 

The way we all register to vote in the UK changed on 10 June 2014. The current system is called Individual Electoral Registration (IER).  

Under the old system, the 'head of every household' could register everyone who lived at their address but now everyone is responsible for registering themselves. 

To find out more visit the Your Vote Matters website:  

Your Vote Matters (external website)

Can I register to vote anonymously? 

If you’re concerned about your own safety or the safety of somebody you live with, you may be able to vote anonymously so your name doesn’t appear on the Register of Electors.

In order to register anonymously, you’ll need supporting evidence such as a court order or an injunction, or written support from a relevant organisation.

Please contact the electoral services team to register anonymously. 

How does it work? 

If you register anonymously, instead of your name and address appearing on the electoral register a code will be added to the end of the section of the register for your polling district. You should receive polling cards as usual which you will have to take with you on polling day.

Do I need to re-register to vote at upcoming elections?

No. You do not need to re-register to vote if you have already completed your annual canvass form sent to you in July 2018.  

You only need to re-register if you move house or change your name since then and not notified Electoral Services.

What do I do if I move house or change my name?

If you move house or change your name you need to register your new address or name via the GOV.UK website: 

GOV.UK - Register to vote (external website)   

Please note: you'll need to provide your date of birth and your national insurance number (which can be found on your national insurance card, or in official paperwork such as payslips, or letters about benefits or tax credits).  

If you are unable to change your details online, please contact the electoral services team.

How do I apply to vote by post?

You can vote by post if you live in the UK or abroad (depending on the election) and are unable to get to your polling station on election day. 

You must be registered to vote before completing one of the following application forms: 

Apply for a UK postal vote (pdf 116kb)

Apply for an overseas postal vote (pdf 87kb)

Apply for an Armed Forces postal vote (pdf 68kb)

Apply for an anonymous postal vote (pdf 116kb)

Read more about these special circumstances (overseas and armed forces electors).  

If you are unable to print these forms, please contact the electoral services team and we will post one out to you.  

When will postal votes be sent out? 

Information on when postal votes will be sent out can be found on the  Information for Voters page. 

Do you have problems signing your name or reading and require a waiver? 

If you have a postal vote and have a disability that prevents you from signing/signing in a consistent manner or are unable to read or write, you can apply for a waiver. This means that you will not need to sign your postal vote.  

Apply for a waiver postal vote (word 106kb) 

If you are unable to print these forms, please contact the electoral services team and we will post one out to you. 

How do I apply for a proxy vote (someone else voting on your behalf)?

You can nominate someone else to vote on your behalf at the polling station (for example due to disability or if you are away on holiday). This is called a ‘proxy vote’. 

'By proxy' means that you are appointing an individual that you trust to vote on your behalf. 

Changes or cancellations to existing proxy arrangements - deadline 

There are deadlines that apply to making changes or cancellations to existing proxy arrangements during the period running up to an election. These deadlines are published in this section of the website.

New proxy application arrangements - deadline 

There are deadlines that apply to making a new proxy application during the period running up to an election. These deadlines are published in this section of the website.

Please note: for new proxy applications or changes to existing proxy arrangements we must receive a printed and signed application form (return address included on form) from both the elector and their proxy. 

You must check you are registered to vote before selecting one of the following application forms: 

Apply to vote on behalf of somebody else (proxy) (pdf 162kb)

Apply to vote on behalf of somebody living overseas (overseas proxy) (pdf 102kb) 

Apply to vote on behalf of somebody in the Armed Forces (Armed Forces proxy) (pdf 134kb)

Apply to vote on behalf of someone who wishes to vote anonymously (anonymous proxy) (pdf 321kb)

Read more about  special circumstances (overseas and armed forces electors).   

If you are unable to print these forms, please  contact the electoral services team and we will post one out to you.  

Postal Proxy 

If you have been assigned as someone’s ‘proxy’ you can apply to vote by post on their behalf, instead of going to the polling station. 

There are deadlines that apply to making a new application for a proxy to vote by post during the period running up to an election. These deadlines are published in this section of the website.

You must be registered to vote before completing one of the following application forms: 

Apply for a postal vote on behalf of somebody else (postal proxy) (pdf 87kb) 

Apply for a postal vote on behalf of somebody living overseas (overseas postal proxy) (pdf 102kb)

If you are unable to print these forms, please  contact the electoral services team and we will post one out to you.

How do I apply for an emergency proxy?

An ‘emergency’ proxy vote can only be applied for after 5pm, six working days before the election, for those who could not have applied for an ordinary proxy earlier because of unforeseen health or work reasons. 

Please note: an emergency proxy does not include pre-planned hospital admissions or being called away for work at late notice.

An emergency proxy vote must be attested by a qualified person, such as a Doctor or Registered Nurse (for a medical emergency), or your employer (for a work emergency). 

Emergency proxy forms are available after 5pm, six working days before the election.

Do I have to re-apply for a postal/proxy vote for each election? 

No. Unless you inform us otherwise, you will continue to receive a postal/proxy vote for all future elections you are eligible to vote at.

By law, once every five years we receive a refreshed signature from you. We will write to you at the appropriate time to request from you. Upon request you must return this to us within six weeks otherwise we will have to cancel your postal/proxy application.

How do I contact Electoral Services?

You can contact the electoral services team by either: