Registering and eligibility to vote
Register to Vote
Everyone is responsible to registering themselves. Registering to vote is quick and simple. It will mean you have the right to vote at elections and being registered could also improve your credit rating.
The Electoral Commission has worked in partnership with Mencap to produce an easy read guide about registering to vote (pdf, 1.3mb), to assist electors in understanding the registration process.
How do I register?
1) If you are eligible to register to vote, go to www.gov.uk/register-to-vote
A step-by-step easy read guide on how to use the Government's website is available here
(pdf, 465kb).
2) Fill in your name, address, date of birth and a few other details. You’ll also need your national insurance number, which can be found on your national insurance card, or in official paperwork such as payslips, or letters about benefits or tax credits.
3) Look out for a confirmation to say you’re registered.
Why should I register?
You need to register in order to be able to vote. If you aren’t registered to vote, you won’t have the chance to have a say on who represents you.
Some people also register to vote because they want to apply for credit. This is because credit reference agencies use the register to check where someone lives when they apply for credit in order to prevent fraud.
Do I have to pay to register?
Registering to vote is free and you should not be charged for this. Please visit www.gov.uk/register-to-vote to submit your application for registration.