Running electoral registration - England

Can a patient in a mental health hospital register to vote?

A person admitted as an in-patient in a mental health hospital or other establishment maintained mainly for the reception and treatment of persons with a mental health problem may be registered at the hospital/establishment, if the period they are likely to spend there is sufficient for them to be regarded as resident there.1
 
Patients in mental health hospitals are also entitled to be registered by making a declaration of local connection at:2  

• the address at which they would be living if they were not a patient 
• an address where they used to live before they became a patient

A person in a mental health hospital may still be considered resident at their permanent home if their stay in hospital is not long enough for them to be able to be regarded as resident there or for them to be able to register through a declaration of local connection.3  

More information on making and processing declarations of local connection can be found in our guidance on special category electors. 

Patients in mental health hospitals who are convicted offenders and are legally incapable of voting are not entitled to be registered.4