With only one week left to register to vote for the local elections in England, the Electoral Commission is reminding voters that they must be registered to ensure their voice is heard on 1 May. 

The deadline to register is 11.59pm on Friday 11 April. Registering takes five minutes and can be done online at gov.uk/register-to-vote. Voters need their name, address and national insurance number. 

A person can register to vote if they are aged 18 or over on polling day, a British citizen resident in the UK, or an Irish, EU or qualifying Commonwealth citizen resident in the UK.

Around 13 million people are estimated to be eligible to vote at this year’s May elections. Yet according to the latest research as many as 14% of people across England are either incorrectly registered or missing from the register entirely.

Jackie Killeen, Director of Electoral Administration and Regulation at the Electoral Commission, said:  

“Only people registered to vote can have their say at the May elections on issues important to their local areas. 

“It’s also important that voters remember to bring their photo ID to polling stations. Anyone that does not have an accepted form can apply for free voter ID until 23 April.”  

Commission research shows that young people, students and those who have recently moved are less likely to be registered.

Almost 470,000 applications to register have already been made in England since 17 February when the Commission’s voter registration campaign began.

Anyone previously on the register who has recently moved home or whose details have changed will need to register to vote again. 

Ends

The Commission has spokespeople available to discuss voter registration and the voter ID requirement. 

For more information contact the Electoral Commission press office on 020 7271 0704, out of office hours 07789 920 414 or [email protected].

Notes to editors

•    The Electoral Commission is the independent body which oversees elections and regulates political finance in the UK. We work to promote public confidence in the democratic process and ensure its integrity by:
o    enabling the delivery of free and fair elections and referendums, focusing on the needs of electors and addressing the changing environment to ensure every vote remains secure and accessible

o    regulating political finance – taking proactive steps to increase transparency, ensure compliance and pursue breaches

o    using our expertise to make and advocate for changes to our democracy, aiming to improve fairness, transparency and efficiency

•    The Commission was set up in 2000 and reports to the UK, Scottish and Welsh parliaments.

•    The Commission has produced a media guide on the 2025 local elections.

•    Local elections are taking place across England on 1 May 2025 in 11 local authorities and 14 county councils. There will also be four combined authority mayoral elections, and two local authority mayoral elections.

•    Information on the elections and a postcode look-up tool to help voters find their polling station is also available on the Electoral Commission website. 

•    The deadlines for the local elections are:

o    11.59pm Friday 11 April to register to vote
o    5pm Monday 14 April to apply for a postal vote 
o    5pm Wednesday 23 April to apply for a proxy vote 
o    5pm Wednesday 23 April to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate

•    Between 17 February 2025 and 2 April 2025, 468,953 applications to register to vote were made in England. More information is available via the Government’s register to vote performance dashboard.