Register to Vote

Who is eligible

You must be aged 16 or over (or 14 or over in Scotland and Wales) to register to vote in the UK.

You must also fall under one of the following categories:

• a British citizen
• an Irish or EU citizen living in the UK
• a Commonwealth citizen who has permission to enter or stay in the UK, or who does not need permission
• a citizen of another country living in Scotland or Wales who has permission to enter or stay in the UK, or who does not need permission

What you will need

You’ll be asked for your National Insurance number (but you can still register if you do not have one). After you’ve registered, your name and address will appear on the electoral register.

If you live abroad

All British citizens living abroad who have ever lived in the UK or who were registered to vote in the UK can now register to vote at General Elections.

If you live abroad, you may wish to appoint a proxy. This is the best way to avoid delays in the global postal system. Your proxy vote can vote by post and live anywhere in the UK. Apply to vote by proxy while living overseas.

Other options

Register using a paper form

You can register using a paper form in England, Wales and Scotland.

You’ll need to print, fill out and send the form to your local Electoral Registration Office.

If you live in Northern Ireland, register using a paper form and return it to the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland (EONI).

If you live overseas

You can use the online service to register to vote if both of the following apply to you:

• are a British citizen
• were registered to vote within the last 15 years (or, in some cases, if you were too young to register when you were in the UK)

Passport details may be required.

Need help registering?

You can get help registering from your local Electoral Registration Office.

The UK government also has an easy read guide about registering to vote.