Electoral Commission
Independent body that oversees elections and publishes guidance on registering to vote. Your council keeps the electoral register.
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Register to vote
Register online in about 5 minutes. Who can vote in which elections depends on your nationality and where in the UK you live.
Official links
| Official source | Applies to |
|---|---|
| GOV.UK: register to vote www.gov.uk/register-to-vote | Whole UK |
| nidirect: elections in Northern Ireland www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/elections | Northern Ireland |
Who handles it
Handled by your local council This procedure is done with the council where you live. Find your council »
Step by step
- Check if you can register. In England and Northern Ireland, British, Irish and qualifying Commonwealth citizens can register, as can some EU citizens depending on their nationality and status. In Scotland and Wales anyone with permission to stay in the UK can register.
- Register online on GOV.UK. It takes about 5 minutes.
- Decide if you want to opt out of the 'open' register, the version anyone can buy.
- Register again whenever you change your name, address or nationality.
What you need
- Your National Insurance number (you can still register without one)
- Passport details, if you register as an overseas voter
Common mistakes
- Forgetting to register again after moving house or changing your name.
- Registering again before every election. You only need to do it once unless your details change.