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Register to vote

How do I register to vote?

Each person must register to vote individually, providing their National Insurance number and date of birth. This will enable applications to be verified before they are added to the register.

You can register to vote any time of the year online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote - it's free, quick and easy. You just need your National Insurance number. It's on pay slips, letters about benefits, tax returns, and other official correspondence. Find out what to do if you can't find your National Insurance number.

How long does it take?

It usually takes around a month from when you register to get onto the electoral registration. The 2023 deadlines are:

  • Friday 10 March 2023 to go onto the Electoral Register on Monday 3 April 2023
  • Thursday 6 April 2023 go onto the Electoral Register on Tuesday 2 May 2023
  • Wednesday 10 May 2023 to go onto the Electoral Register on Thursday 1 June 2023
  • Friday 9 June 2023 to go onto the Electoral Register on Monday 3 July 2023
  • Monday 10 July 2023 to go onto the Electoral Register on Tuesday 1 August 2023
  • Thursday 10 August 2023 to go onto the Electoral Register on Friday 1 September 2023
  • Wednesday 22 November 2023 to go onto the Electoral Register on Friday 1 December 2023

Who can register to vote?

  • Anyone aged 16 or over but you cannot vote until you are 18
  • Those who normally live in your household but are away for the time being - for example on holiday, as students, or in hospital (including voluntary patients in psychiatric hospitals)
  • Anyone who is away working, unless they are away for more than six months
  • Any other residents, lodgers or guests (but not short-stay visitors) in your household, whether this is a private address, a hostel or a club
  • British citizens living abroad can be registered for up to 15 years after they last appeared on a register in the UK
  • Members of the Armed Forces, Crown Servants, etc. and their partners must register annually, but can do so as 'Service' etc., voters or as ordinary voters
  • British or Commonwealth Citizens
  • Citizens of the Republic of Ireland or other European Union (EU) countries

British citizens, Irish citizens and citizens of Commonwealth countries (including Cyprus and Malta) can vote at all elections.

Citizens of other EU countries can vote in local government elections but cannot vote in UK Parliamentary elections. If you are an EU citizen and want to vote in European Parliamentary elections, you must fill in a separate form, please contact us to ask for one.

Students

Students can register at their home address and their university address. It is an offence to vote more than once in a national election, but you can vote in local elections at both addresses.