Voter registration and the electoral roll

Searching the electoral roll

We don't keep copies of the electoral roll (also known as the electoral register).

We often receive enquiries about the electoral roll (or electoral register as it is sometimes known). The electoral roll is held at your local electoral registration office (or council office in England and Wales). The Northern Ireland electoral register is held by the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland.

You can find contact details for your local office by entering your postcode on our About my vote website >

Voter registration

To vote in an election or referendum, you must be registered on the electoral roll.

Who can register to vote?

Anyone aged 16 or over (but you cannot vote until you are 18).
British or qualifying Commonwealth citizens. This means Commonwealth citizens who have leave to remain in the UK or do not require such leave.
Citizens of the Republic of Ireland or other European Union (EU) member states.

Who can vote?

British, Irish and qualifying citizens of Commonwealth countries (including Cyprus and Malta) can vote at all elections.
Citizens of other EU member states resident in the UK can vote in local government elections but cannot vote in UK Parliamentary elections.
Those resident in Scotland or Wales may also vote in Scottish Parliamentary or National Assembly for Wales elections.

Am I registered to vote?

If you would like to register to vote, or find out if you are registered, please see the contact details for your Electoral Registration Officer on our About My Vote website. On the site we also explain what you can vote for, the different ways you can vote and how to register. About my vote >

FAQ

See FAQs for more on registration and voting

Great Britain's electoral registers

On 14 December 2011 we published a report on the quality of the electoral registers across Great Britain.

The research, funded by the Cabinet Office, is based on a national survey and assesses the accuracy and completeness of the registers.

The findings will inform debate on future changes to the registration system.

Read the report (PDF) | Read our press release

For more information on voter registration and to view previous reports on Great Britain's electoral registers, please visit our page on individual electoral registration.