Register to vote

Register to vote to get on the electoral register, or to change your details. It usually takes about 5 minutes.

You need to be on the electoral register to vote in elections or referendums.

This service is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

Who can register

You can register if you’re both:

  • aged 16 or over (or 14 or over in Scotland)
  • a UK citizen (or an Irish, EU or Commonwealth citizen with a permanent UK address)

You can check which elections you’re eligible to vote in.

You can vote when you’re 18 or over. If you live in Scotland, you can vote in Scottish Parliament and local elections when you’re 16.

Student registrations

If you’re a student, you can register at both your university and home address. You can only vote once.

Registering online

Use this service to register to vote.

You only need to register once - not for every election.

Start now

What you need to know

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

After you’ve registered, your name and address will appear on the electoral register.

How to check if you’re already registered

Contact your local Electoral Registration Office to find out if you’re already registered to vote.

Updating your registration

You can also use the ‘Register to vote’ service to:

  • change your name, address or nationality
  • get on or off the open register

To do this, you need to register again with your new details (even if you’re already registered to vote).

Other ways to apply

There’s a different process to register anonymously, for example if you’re concerned about your safety.

Registering with a paper form

You can:

If you live abroad

You can use this service to apply to register to vote (or to renew or update your registration) if you:

  • are a British citizen
  • left the UK within the last 15 years
  • were previously registered at an address in England, Scotland or Wales (or, in some cases, you left the UK before your 18th birthday)

You’ll need your passport details if you’re a British citizen living abroad, and want to vote in England, Scotland or Wales.

If you previously lived in Northern Ireland and want to vote there, use the Northern Ireland overseas elector registration form.

If you’re a public servant posted overseas

There’s a different service for public servants (and their spouses and civil partners) who are posted overseas as:

Get help registering

You can get help registering from your local Electoral Registration Office.

There’s an easy read guide about registering to vote for people with a learning disability.