Register to vote

Register online

Registering to vote using the GOV.UK website takes around five minutes. 

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

If you're a British citizen living abroad, you will need your passport.

Start now

Register using a paper form

You can download paper forms to register to vote from GOV.UK. 

You can also contact us to ask for paper form using the details at the bottom of this page. Completed paper forms can be returned to us by post or email.

Who can register to vote

To register to vote in England, you must: 

• be aged 16 or over – but you cannot vote until you are 18
• be a British citizen or an Irish citizen

You can also register if you have permission to enter or stay in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man (or you do not need permission) and you are a:

• Commonwealth citizen
• citizen of Denmark, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal or Spain
• citizen of another EU country, if you have had permission to enter or stay (or you have not needed permission) since 31 December 2020, and this has continued without a break

Even if you are eligible to register, you may not be able to vote in all types of elections. 

For more information, go to who can vote in types of elections and referendums – GOV.UK.

Register to vote in special circumstances

Get advice if you're:

• a student or you have a second home – Electoral Commission
• a member of the armed forces – GOV.UK
• a Crown servant or British Council employee voter – GOV.UK
• living in a dangerous situation and need to vote anonymously – Electoral Commission
• a voter without a fixed or permanent address – Electoral Commission

If you live overseas

Your registration lasts up to three years. You’ll get a reminder from us around three months before it’s time to renew.

If you do not renew your registration, you will:

• be removed from the electoral register
• need to make a new application to be able to vote again

Find more information, go to voting if you live overseas – GOV.UK.

Check if you are registered to vote

If you're unsure if you're already registered, you can contact us using the details at the bottom of this page.

Update your details

If you have moved home or changed your name, you must register to vote – GOV.UK again.

If there are no changes to your personal circumstances, you do not need to register to vote before every election.

If there are changes to the people who live in your household, you can let us know as part of our annual canvass.

Electoral register

When you register to vote, your name and address will appear on the full electoral register. 

You can opt out of the open register when you register to vote. If you are already registered to vote and want to opt-out, contact us.

For more information, go to the electoral register.