Registering to vote
Electoral registration is handled by your local district or borough council. You can ask them for a registration form (see the links below) or visit the Aboutmyvote website to download a form and find your council's Electoral Registration Office using your postcode.
The electoral register lists the name and address of everyone who has registered to vote. The law says that your local authority must make the electoral register available for anyone who wants to look at it. It is published on 1 December every year, and updated monthly from December to August.
Young people aged 16 or 17 can apply to the electoral register ready for when they turn 18.
There are two versions of the register.
- The full register is maintained for elections and referendums. The law also allows it to be used for other purposes such as the prevention and detection of crime, or for checking your identity when you apply for credit. The law restricts who can have copies of the full register.
- The edited register can be bought by anyone who asks for a copy, and they are allowed to use it for any purpose. When you fill in your electoral registration form, you will be able to choose whether you want your details removed from the edited register.
Find out more about who has access to the electoral register from the Electoral Commission website.
