Register to vote
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How to register to vote
Registering to vote online is the easiest and quickest way.
It only takes five minutes, and all you need is your national insurance number.
If you're unable to register online, you can apply by post. Download a form for:
You only need to register once, unless you change your address, name or nationality.
If you do change address, name or nationality, you need to register to vote again.
Registering to vote online in Northern Ireland
Registering to vote online in Northern Ireland
If you're registering to vote online in Northern Ireland, you will be given a Digital Registration Number (or 'DRN') when your application is approved.
Keep this number somewhere safe, as you will need to provide it if you apply for a postal or proxy vote.
You can request a reminder if you lose it.
Contact the Electoral Office of Northern Ireland to find out more.
Who can register to vote
To register to vote, you must be:
a UK or Irish citizen
- an EU citizen living in the UK
You have to be a certain age to register to vote.
| Country | Age you need to be to register |
|---|---|
| England | 16 or older |
| Scotland | 14 or older |
| Wales | 16 or older |
| Northern Ireland | 17 or older (or will be 17 by 30 November) |
You can't vote until you're 18 years old. However, if you live in Scotland, you can vote in some elections from 16 years old. Find out which elections you can vote in
Eligible countries
Other situations
Check if you're already registered to vote
Find out if you're already registered to vote
If you are registered to vote, you will be on the electoral register. We don’t hold the electoral register, so can’t tell you if you are registered to vote.
You need to contact the electoral services team at your local council to check if you're on the register.
Enter your postcode to find their contact details.
Household Enquiry Form
Household Enquiry Form
If you've recently filled in a Household Enquiry Form (HEF), it doesn't mean you're registered to vote.
Make sure you register to vote. The quickest way is to register to vote online. All you need is your national insurance number.
You can also:
- Fill in and return the Invitation to Register (ITR) form that your local council sends you
- Download and return this form to the electoral services team at your local council:
Make sure you pass this information on to anyone else in your household who is entitled to register.