Register to vote

You need to be on the electoral register to vote in all UK elections and referendums. You are not automatically registered even if you pay council tax. If you receive a request for your registration information from your local electoral registration office then you are legally obliged to respond. If you do not respond, or if you provide false information, then you could receive a £1,000 fine.

To be eligible to vote you must be on the Electoral Register, by the Council having received a complete and valid Voter Registration form. You will then automatically receive a Poll Card at election time that entitles you to vote at your polling station. If you wish to vote by post or by proxy you must complete an additional form (see below).

You need to be included on the Electoral Register if you are:

• 18 and over
• British, Irish, European or qualifying Commonwealth Citizen living in the UK - Please see the list of Eligible Nationalities for more information.

If you are 16/17 years old you can fill your details out on the form, but you must provide your date of birth, so that you are eligible to vote as soon as you turn 18.

If you are not on the Electoral Register, you will not be able to vote come polling day. You will also find it hard to obtain credit, a mobile phone contract or open a bank account.

For more information on registering to vote visit www.aboutmyvote.co.uk

Key Forms

Voter Registration

Armed Forces Application

Crown Servant Application

British Citizen living Overseas

Postal Vote Application

Proxy Application