Register to Vote
You need to be registered to vote to take part in elections. You can register to vote online at any time, though you will need to be registered at least three weeks before any particular election to take part. Contact the Electoral Registration Office at your local district or borough council to find out if you’re already registered to vote, or use the voter registration service to update your name, address or nationality details.
There are different ways that you can vote in elections.:
- Voting in person at a polling station.
- Voting by post. This is an alternative to voting in person at a polling station. It’s available to anyone who has registered to vote individually. To vote by post, you must apply in advance.
- Voting by proxy. This is when you ask someone you trust to vote on your behalf. You will need to complete a proxy vote application form. You can choose to vote by proxy for one election or have a permanent long-term proxy vote.
The Electoral Commission has further information on each of these options as well as details of how to register or apply.