Website of the UK government

The electoral register

The electoral register (sometimes called the 'electoral roll') is a list of the names and addresses of everyone who is registered to vote. It's also used by credit reference agencies to verify your details and prevent fraud.

Once you are registered, you will be able to vote in various types of election, depending on where you are from and where you live:

• UK Parliament
• European Parliament
• local government
• Scottish Parliament, National Assembly for Wales, or Northern Ireland Assembly, if you live in these areas

Who can register to vote

You can register to vote if you are 16 years old or over, and a British, Irish, Commonwealth or European Union citizen.

Information about which types of election you are eligible to vote in, and when elections will be held, is available from the About My Vote website or your local electoral registration office.

If you're 16 or 17, you can register now but you're not allowed to vote until you're 18.

• About My Vote website Opens new window
• Find your local electoral registration office Opens new window

Who can use your details

There are two versions of the electoral register:

• the 'full register' is only used for elections, preventing and detecting crime, and checking applications for loans or credit
• the 'edited register' is available for general sale and can be used for marketing and other commercial activities

Your name and address will appear on the full register, but you can choose whether to appear on the edited register.

The electoral register is also used to pick people at random for jury service.

• Credit reference agencies and your credit file (money, tax and benefits section)
• Identity theft and credit reference agencies
• Serving as a juror (crime, justice and the law section)

Annual registration between August and November

Most people register or re-register between August and November every year, when the local council delivers a registration form to your home. This is called the 'annual canvass'.

You are legally required to return this form, even if there is no change or no one is eligible to vote at your address. The form should list all the people who will be living at your address on 15 October and who are eligible to vote.

If your household details haven't changed, in some local authorities you can renew your registration online or by telephone. Your canvass form will include the necessary information.

A new electoral register is published on 1 December each year, including all the changes made during the annual canvass. Your details won't be updated until this date, so if you move house and an election is called during this period, you may wish to apply for a postal or proxy vote.

• Voting by post or by proxy

Registering to vote at any other time

During the rest of the year (from December to mid-August), there are monthly updates to the electoral register, known as 'rolling registration'. This is useful if you move house.

If you are eligible to vote, you can register at any time by filling in a registration form and sending it to your local electoral registration office, which is usually at your local council office. You can download a form from the About My Vote website or your council website.

You are not automatically registered to vote, even if you pay Council Tax. Electoral registration is a separate process from Council Tax registration. If you're not sure whether you're registered to vote, your local electoral registration office can tell you.

• About My Vote website Opens new window
• Contact your local electoral registration office Opens new window
• Register to vote in Scotland Opens new window
• Register to vote in Northern Ireland Opens new window

Registering to vote if you are in the Armed Forces

Service personnel and their husbands, wives or civil partners posted abroad can register as a service voter. You can vote in person or by post or proxy, though there may not be enough time for a postal vote if you are abroad.

If you are living in the UK, you have the option of making a service declaration, or you can choose to vote in the traditional way.

Service declaration forms are available from the About My Vote website, or by contacting your local electoral registration office. You must renew your service declaration every three years.

• About My Vote website Opens new window
• Contact your local electoral registration office Opens new window

Registering to vote from overseas

British citizens living abroad who have been registered to vote in the UK within the past 15 years can register as an overseas voter.

You can vote in UK general elections and European Parliamentary elections, but not in UK local government elections or elections for the devolved governments (Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland).

• Voting from abroad

More useful links

• Easy-read guide to voting - a simple illustrated booklet Opens new window