Register to vote
You must register to vote to go on the electoral register. You need to be on the electoral register to vote in local and general elections or referendum. You can register to vote online or on a paper application form. To register to vote you must be 18 years old or over, a British, Irish, Commonwealth, or European Union citizen. We check details of voters for each household once a year in an annual canvass. You can register to vote live overseas, are in the armed forces, or live with someone in the armed forces. If you need to, you can register anonymously.
How to register to vote
Read the easy-to-read guide on registering to vote on GOV.UK
Register to vote online on GOV.UK, or request an application form from the Elections Office on the details below. To register to vote you must be 18 years old or over, a British, Irish, Commonwealth, or European Union citizen. You will need your National Insurance Number to register to vote. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will be check your National Insurance Number and other details you supply.
Read how to apply for a National Insurance Number on GOV.UK, by telephone only, during normal office hours.
You can find your National Insurance Number on your payslip, P60, or letters about tax, pensions and benefits.
Read how to find a lost National Insurance Number on GOV.UK. If you have none of the documents above, we can accept other types of documents.
Have you received a voting registration letter?
You may need to register if:
- You have received a letter and form (Invitation to Register) asking you to register; or
- You have moved house; or
- You are 18 years old and are not yet registered.
If you receive a form asking you to register, it is important that you respond. You can respond using the online service. Updating your details for Council Tax does not change your details on the electoral register.
If you do not respond to the voting registration letter
If you are not on the register then you cannot vote. It may also affect your ability to get credit or open a bank account.
If you are not on the register then you cannot have a postal vote. You cannot appoint a proxy unless they are registered.
If you need help to register to vote
Contact the office on the number below if you need help to register to vote. You will need your National Insurance Number so please have it ready.
Register as an overseas or armed forces voter
Register to vote (armed forces) on GOV.UK to get on the electoral register or to update your details if you do not have a permanent home address in the UK.
If you registered to vote in the UK in the last 15 years, you are eligible to vote in UK Parliamentary general elections.
See register as a service voter on Electoral Commission website, if you, or your spouse, or civil partner, are servicing in the armed forces.
Register to vote anonymously
Read how to register to vote anonymously on Electoral Commission I am a voter website, if you have concerns about your name and address appearing on the electoral register because you think it could affect your safety, or the safety of someone in your household.
Registration dates 2023
We update the electoral registers each month between January and September. You must apply before the last date for applications for us to add you to the electoral register the following month.
| Last date for applications | Date added to the register |
|---|---|
| 12/12/2022 | 03/01/2023 |
| 10/01/2023 | 01/02/2023 |
| 07/02/2023 | 01/03/2023 |
| 10/03/2023 | 03/04/2023 |
| 24/03/2023 | 04/04/2023 (Election) |
| 31/03/2023 | 13/04/2023 (Election) |
| 17/04/2023 | 26/04/2023 (Election) |
| 10/05/2023 | 01/06/2023 |
| 09/06/2023 | 03/07/2023 |
| 10/07/2023 | 01/08/2023 |
| 10/08/2023 | 01/09/2023 |
| 08/09/2023 | 02/10/2023 |
| 10/10/2023 | 01/11/2023 |
| 22/11/2023 | 01/12/2023 |
We will publish the revised register on the 1 December 2023.
There are no monthly updates to the register after September 2023, as we undertake the annual canvass of electors.
If there is an election during 2023 there will be additional updates to the register during the election timetable. We will publish details of these updates separately.
Data protection
Read about electoral registration data protection to find out how we only use the information you give us for electoral purposes and how we will look after personal information securely.
If you have provided your email address so that we can send you information and electoral forms electronically, you may unsubscribe at any time by contacting the elections office using the email address below.