Register to vote

To be able to vote at any election or referendum your name must appear on the electoral register.

If you are unsure as to whether you are registered or not, contact Electoral Services.

Not being registered to vote can cause a delay if you apply for a loan, mortgage, finance agreement or even a mobile phone contract. You will not be automatically registered to vote if you pay council tax.

Once you have registered, you do not need to do so again unless you move house or change your name. 

Who is eligible to register to vote?

You must be aged 16 or over to register (you can only vote when you become 18). 

You can register to vote if you're 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're 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 not needed permission - since 31 December 2020, and this has continued without a break

Further information about eligibility can be found on the Electoral Commission's website: Which elections you can vote in (Electoral Commission).

How do I register to vote?

You can register to vote online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote. 

You'll need to provide your date of birth and National Insurance number. Your National Insurance number can be found on your national insurance card, or in official paperwork such as payslips, or letters about benefits or tax credits. If you do not have this information, we'll ask you to provide a different kind of evidence of your identity instead. 

Paper-based registration

If you can't register to vote online we can send you a paper registration form. Contact Electoral Services to request a paper form.

How long it takes to be added to the electoral register

Once you've applied to register to vote, your details need to be checked and verified. If your details cannot be verified, we may contact you to ask for more evidence of your identity.

When we've confirmed your application to register to vote is valid, you'll be added to the electoral register in line with the dates in the table below. Registration dates are set in law. Information cannot be published early.

We'll send you a confirmation letter once we've added your details to the electoral register.

2024/2025 registration deadlines

When there's an election

If you submitted a valid application to register to vote up to 12 working days before polling day, you'll be able to vote at that election.