Voting if you have a second home or you're a student

If you split your time between two homes, you may be able to register to vote at both addresses. 

For example, this might be if you:

• own two properties and split your time between them
• are a student with a home address and your term-time address
• spend time at different family addresses.

If you apply to register to vote from your second home, then your application will be looked at on a case by case basis. The outcome will depend on the amount of time you spend at each of your addresses. 

Find out if you're eligible to register and how to apply.

Being registered at two addresses doesn't necessarily mean you get two votes.

You will need to choose one address and vote in only that area when you're voting in:

• UK Parliament elections
• UK referendums
• London Assembly and London Mayoral elections

You can't vote at both addresses at these elections. Voting in more than one location is a criminal offence. 

For other elections you can vote at both addresses.

You can choose to vote in either or both areas (as long as the addresses are in different council areas) when you're voting in:

• Local council elections in England
• Police and Crime commissioner elections and mayoral elections

Make sure you understand the rules for the election you are voting in.

If you split your time between two homes, you may be able to register to vote at both addresses. 

For example, this might be if you:

• own two properties and split your time between them
• are a student with a home address and your term-time address
• spend time at different family addresses.

If you apply to register to vote from your second home, then your application will be looked at on a case by case basis. The outcome will depend on the amount of time you spend at each of your addresses. 

Find out if you're eligible to register and how to apply.

Being registered to vote at two addresses doesn't mean you get two votes.

If you are registered at two addresses in Scotland then you must choose one address and vote in that area when you’re voting in:

• UK Parliamentary elections 
• Scottish Parliament elections
• Council elections in Scotland
• A referendum

Voting in more than one location is a criminal offence.

The only exception is if one of your addresses is in Scotland and the other is somewhere else in the UK, and you’re voting in a council election. 

In this case, you can vote in the council election in Scotland and in the local election in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. 

If you split your time between two homes, you may be able to register to vote at both addresses. 

For example, this might be if you:

• own two properties and split your time between them
• are a student with a home address and your term-time address
• spend time at different family addresses.

If you apply to register to vote from your second home, then your application will be looked at on a case by case basis. The outcome will depend on the amount of time you spend at each of your addresses. 

Find out if you're eligible to register and how to apply.

Being registered at two addresses doesn't necessarily mean you get two votes.

You will need to choose one address and vote in only that area when you're voting in:

• UK Parliament elections
• Senedd elections
• UK referendums

You can't vote at both addresses at these elections. Voting in more than one location is a criminal offence. 

For other elections you can vote at both addresses.

You can choose to vote in either or both areas (as long as the addresses are in different council areas) when you're voting in:

• Local council elections in Wales
• Police and Crime commissioner elections 

Make sure you understand the rules for the election you are voting in.

If you split your time between two homes, you may be able to register to vote at both addresses. 

For example, this might be if you:

• own two properties and split your time between them
• are a student with a home address and your term-time address
• spend time at different family addresses.

If you apply to register to vote from your second home, then your application will be looked at on a case by case basis. The outcome will depend on the amount of time you spend at each of your addresses. 

Find out if you're eligible to register and how to apply.

You will need to choose one address and vote in only that area when you're voting in:

• UK Parliament elections
• Northern Ireland Assembly elections
• UK referendums

You can't vote at both addresses at these elections. Voting in more than one location is a criminal offence. 

For local council elections in Northern Ireland you can choose to vote in either or both areas, as long as the addresses are in different council areas.

Make sure you understand the rules for the election you are voting in.