How to Register to Vote in the UK

You register to vote by applying to get on the electoral register, which you normally only need to do once rather than before every election. In most cases you can do it online at gov.uk/register-to-vote, and it usually takes about 5 minutes. You will need to register again if you change your name, address or nationality.

• Your National Insurance number (you can still register if you do not have one)
• If you live abroad, the postcode of the last UK address you were registered to vote at, or the last UK address you lived at if you have never registered
• Your passport details, if you are registering as an overseas voter and you are asked for them

1. Check that you are eligible to register. In England and Northern Ireland you must be aged 16 or over to register, and in Scotland and Wales you must be aged 14 or over. You can register up to 2 years before you reach voting age.
2. Go to gov.uk/register-to-vote and start the online service. It is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).
3. Enter your National Insurance number when asked. If you do not have one, you can still register.
4. If you live in the UK, decide whether to opt out of the open register, the version of the electoral register that anyone can buy. You can opt out when you register.
5. If you live abroad, enter the postcode of the last UK address you were registered to vote at, or the last UK address you lived at if you have never registered. You may also be asked for your passport details.
6. Submit your application. If you cannot register online, contact your electoral registration office and ask for a paper form, then print, fill in and send it to them. In Northern Ireland there is a different paper form, which you return to the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland (EONI).
7. If you are not sure whether you are already registered, contact your electoral registration office to check.
8. After you have registered, your name and address will appear on the electoral register, and also on the open register unless you opted out. You can then vote in person, apply for a postal vote or apply for a proxy vote.

• You normally only need to register once, not for every election. You will need to register again if you change your name, address or nationality.
• If you move house, you should register to vote again. If you change your name, you can either contact the electoral services team at your local council and ask for a change of name form, or register to vote again.
• If you live at two addresses, for example as a student or because you have a second home, you may be able to register to vote at both addresses.
• There is no single national register. Electoral registration officers compile local electoral registers, and you must register at the address where you live.
• There are two versions of each local register. The full register contains all registered electors and can only be accessed under strict rules. The open register is available to anyone who pays a fee and contains the entries of people who have not opted out. You cannot opt out of the full register.
• If appearing on the full register could put you or someone in your household at risk, for example if you are a survivor of domestic abuse, you can register to vote anonymously. There is a different process for this, and anonymously registered voters are automatically opted out of the open register.
• If you live abroad, you can register as an overseas voter if you have previously lived in the UK and you are a British citizen, or an eligible Irish citizen registering to vote in Northern Ireland. You will need to renew your registration from abroad every 3 years.
• If you cannot remember which address you were last registered at, contact your electoral registration office.
• You can get help registering from your electoral registration office, and there is an easy read guide about registering to vote.
• If you do not have photo ID that allows you to vote, you can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate, or an Electoral Identity Card in Northern Ireland.

Do I need to register before every election? No. You normally only need to register once. You will need to register again if you change your name, address or nationality.

Can I register if I do not have a National Insurance number? Yes. You will be asked for your National Insurance number, but you can still register if you do not have one.

Can I register to vote if I am under 18? You can register up to 2 years before you reach voting age. In England and Northern Ireland you must be aged 16 or over to register, and in Scotland and Wales you must be aged 14 or over.

Can I opt out of the open register? Yes, if you live in the UK. You can opt out when you register, and you can also opt out at any time afterwards. You cannot opt out of the full register.

How do I check if I am already registered? Contact your electoral registration office, or the electoral services team at your local council, and they will be able to tell you.