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Find out more about elections and referendums in the UK, including the general election, check who can vote in each election and how voting works.

• Overview

  There are different types of UK elections. The most common ones are:…

• General election

  General elections (elections to the UK Parliament) usually take place…

• Local government

  Local government elections take place at least every 4 years. Not all…

• Scottish Parliament

  There are 129 Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs). To vote in…

• Northern Ireland Assembly

  There are 90 Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) in the Northern…

• Senedd Cymru (Welsh Parliament)

  There are 60 Members of the Senedd (MSs). To vote in Senedd elections you…

• Local mayors, Mayor of London and London Assembly

  Elected local mayors In some areas of England voters elect a mayor. Check…

• Police and Crime Commissioner

  There are 41 Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) in England and Wales…

• Referendums

  A referendum is a vote on a single issue. You usually make one choice…

An overview of voting in the UK, including voting in person, postal and proxy voting, and voting if you're abroad.

• Overview

  You need to be registered to vote before you can vote in UK elections or…

• Voting in person

  You vote in person at a polling station (usually in a public building,…

• Voting by post

  You must apply for a postal vote if you want to vote by post, for example…

• Voting by proxy

  If you’re unable to vote in person you can ask someone to vote on your…

• Voting from abroad

  How you vote when you’re abroad depends on: whether you’ll be abroad…

• Photo ID you'll need

  You’ll need to show photo ID when voting in person in some UK elections or…

• Voting as a proxy for someone else

  You may be asked to vote on behalf of someone else if they’re unable to…

Vote in UK elections and referendums, register to vote, check what ID you need, and apply to vote by post or by proxy.

Register to vote to take part in elections in the UK. Includes how to get on the electoral register and how to update your address on the register.

Key issues and questions for charities to consider based on insights from our casework into campaigning and political activity during previous election periods.

• Updated: 29 May 2024

If you aren’t able to cast your vote in person, you can have someone you trust cast your vote for you in a particular election or referendum.

Challenge the result of an election if you think it was not run properly, issuing and serving an election petition, and what happens at the hearing and trial

Find out how to vote in UK elections if you move or live abroad, including eligibility, registering to vote and renewing your registration.

Sample of an election petition to question a European, parliamentary or local government election result in the High Court.

This guidance provides detailed advice on good election security practice. If you are an election candidate, please visit the Candidate Security Guidance Collection linked at the top of this page to find the specific information you need on protective, cyber...

• Updated: 30 April 2025