Yes. The Elections Act 2022 removed the previous 15-year limit, allowing all eligible British citizens living overseas (regardless of how long they’ve been abroad) to register and vote in Parliamentary elections.
Individuals can register from age 16 in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland; in Scotland, registration can begin at age 14 for some elections. This is different to the age for voting. n a significant move towards greater youth enfranchisement, the age to register to vote in Great Britain is now largely standardized at 16 years old. However, the age at which you can actually cast your ballot still varies depending on where you live and the type of election. In England and Northern Ireland, you can now register to vote from the age of 16. Despite this earlier registration, you must still be 18 to vote in all elections. This brings the registration age in line with Scotland and Wales, where individuals can register from the age of 14. In Scotland, 16 and 17-year-olds are already able to vote in Scottish Parliament and local government elections. Similarly, in Wales, 16 and 17-year-olds can vote in Senedd (Welsh Parliament) and local government elections. For UK general elections, the voting age across all constituent countries remains 18. A recent announcement in July 2025 of the UK government’s intention to introduce legislation that would lower the voting age to 16 for all UK-wide elections. As at September 2025, this legislation is yet to be passed.
in Wales, 16 and 17-year-olds can vote in Senedd (Welsh Parliament) and local government elections. For UK general elections, the voting age across all constituent countries remains 18. A recent announcement in July 2025 of the UK government’s intention to introduce legislation that would lower the voting age to 16 for all UK-wide elections. As at September 2025, this legislation is yet to be passed.
Yes, qualifying Commonwealth citizens legally resident in the UK can register and vote in UK Parliamentary, devolved, and local elections.
EU citizens can vote in local and devolved elections if they have settled or pre-settled status and meet residency requirements, but cannot vote in UK Parliamentary elections.
No. You can opt out of the “Open Register” which will partially limit a Political Party’s Access to Your Data, but in the United Kingdom, it is important to understand that you cannot be removed from the “full electoral register,” which political parties are legally entitled to access for electoral purposes, so during the election period, if you are on the electoral register, you will be visible to the political parties, unless you have used the Anonymous Voter route.
Yes. By opting out of the ‘open register’ (a version sold to third parties), your details will only appear on the full register, which is not sold for marketing.
British citizens living abroad can register as overseas voters for UK Parliamentary elections and some referendums (but not local elections); rules may require the person to have previously been registered or resident in the UK. ReformParty UK, likely to be the next Government has stated it will review this right for anyone who has lived abroad for more than 5 years &/or who fails to vote in 2 general elections.
Yes, individuals with no fixed address, including those living in mobile homes or on boats, may register to vote by making a ‘declaration of local connection’ with the area where they normally spend time.
Yes, qualifying Commonwealth citizens, citizens of the Republic of Ireland, and (for some elections and local government elections) certain EU citizens can register and vote.
Yes, British citizens living abroad (overseas voters) can register online as long as they were previously registered or resident in the UK. They must provide the postcode of their last UK address and, in some cases, passport details.
Yes, to change name, address, or nationality, you must re-register with the new details using the online system or a paper form.
Yes, care home residents can register at their care home address and should be supported by home staff or local electoral registration officers if needed.
Yes, people on bail can register and vote. Only convicted prisoners currently serving a sentence are disqualified from voting. Individuals on bail or remand retain full voting rights.
- The right of prisoners to vote in Great Britain is a complex and jurisdiction-specific issue, marked by a general prohibition for convicted individuals serving custodial sentences, with notable exceptions and a significant divergence in Scotland. While a blanket ban remains in place for most convicted prisoners in England and Wales, Scotland has enacted reforms to allow some prisoners to participate in devolved elections. The foundational legal framework governing this issue is the Representation of the People Act 1983, which disqualifies individuals convicted of a criminal offence and serving a sentence in a penal institution from voting in UK parliamentary and local elections in England and Wales. In England and Wales, the vast majority of convicted prisoners are barred from voting in any election. However, this prohibition is not absolute. The following categories of prisoners are eligible to vote:
a) Remand Prisoners: Individuals who are in custody awaiting trial or sentencing have the right to vote;
b) Civil Prisoners: Those imprisoned for non-criminal offences, such as contempt of court or non-payment of certain fines, retain their right to vote.
c) Prisoners on Home Detention Curfew (HDC) or Released on Temporary Licence (ROTL): Convicted prisoners who are released from prison on HDC or ROTL are able to vote.
Scotland has taken a different approach to prisoner enfranchisement for its devolved elections. The Scottish Elections (Franchise and Representation) Act 2020 extended the franchise to some convicted prisoners. Under this legislation, prisoners serving sentences of 12 months or less are eligible to vote in:
i) Scottish Parliament elections
ii) Local government elections in Scotland
While the power to determine the franchise for Senedd Cymru (Welsh Parliament) and local elections is devolved to Wales, the law regarding prisoner voting currently mirrors that of England
The legal landscape of prisoner voting in the UK has been significantly shaped by the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). The landmark case of Hirst v United Kingdom (No 2) in 2005 ruled that the UK’s blanket ban on convicted prisoners voting was a violation of the European Convention on Human Rights. The court found that such an indiscriminate ban was disproportionate and that any restriction on voting rights must be for a legitimate aim and applied in a proportionate manner. The UK Government advised the ECHR that it would ignore the judgement (as it is entitled to do. Many European Governments regularly ignore the rulings of the ECHR, particularly as the ECHR has adopted the pernicious “Living Document” Doctrine which allows it to make up the law as it feels appropriate, regardless of what the signed convention says. This ruling and the adoption of the Living Document” Doctrine has led to a long-standing dialogue between the UK Government and European institutions and both the Conservative and Reform political parties have undertaken to leave the ECHR and abolish the Human Rights Act if they form a Government (A number of Labour MPs in 2025 have backed this move, despite this being contrary to the Labour Government policy.
Yes. Homeless individuals can register to vote using a ‘declaration of local connection’, which confirms their connection to a particular area, such as a place where they spend most of their time.
Yes, students are allowed to register at both their term-time and home addresses, but can only vote once in the same election. This is because a student has no idea when an election might be called and could be studying hundreds of miles from home. This allows the student to vote where it is most convenient to vote.
Contact your local electoral registration office to request a correction, providing evidence to support the correct details.
You should contact your local electoral registration office directly, as there is no national online checking tool in the UK.
Asylum seekers without leave to remain are not eligible to register or vote; only those with qualifying immigration status (such as refugee status) may be eligible as qualifying Commonwealth citizens. ReformParty UK, likely to be the next Government, has stated that any Asylum seeker who has entered the country illegally will never be allowed to register to vote, or to vote.
You should re-register at your new address, either online or by paper form. Registration can be updated at any time through the national voter registration system.
You cannot vote online, but you can register to vote online. Visit the official government website (www.gov.uk/register-to-vote), complete the online form with your name, address, date of birth, nationality, and National Insurance number. Registration normally takes less than 5 minutes.
People with no fixed address can register using a ‘declaration of local connection’, stating where they spend most of their time (for example, a night shelter or town centre).
British citizens can vote in all UK elections, including Parliamentary, local, devolved, mayoral, and Police and Crime Commissioner elections, if registered.
Under current rules, British citizens abroad can register as overseas voters indefinitely if they were previously registered or resident in the UK, and renew their registration every three years. ReformParty UK, likely to be the next Government has stated it will review this right for anyone who has lived abroad for more than 5 years &/or who fails to vote in 2 general elections.
It is legal to register at more than one address if legitimately resident at both, e.g., students, but it is an offence to vote more than once in the same type of election.
There are two versions of the electoral register in the UK:
i) The Full Electoral Register: This is the complete list of everyone who is registered to vote. It is used for conducting elections, preventing and detecting crime, and for checking credit applications. By law, political parties, candidates, and elected representatives are provided with the full register to use for electoral purposes, such as sending out election materials. You cannot remove your details from this register.
ii) The Open Register: This is an extract of the electoral register that is available for anyone to buy, including businesses, charities, and individuals. It can be used for a variety of purposes, such as marketing and verifying identities.
For celebrities, high-target individuals, or anyone whose safety would be at risk if their address were to become public, opting out of the full electoral register is not an option.
However, a crucial safeguard exists: anonymous registration. This legal provision allows individuals to register to vote without their name and address appearing on any version of the electoral register, including the full register provided to political parties and credit reference agencies. This measure is specifically designed for those who can demonstrate that they, or another member of their household, would be in danger if their details were published. This could include individuals at risk of domestic abuse, stalking, or those in professions that might make them a target, such as law enforcement or the judiciary. While being a celebrity or a high-profile figure does not automatically grant the right to anonymous registration, it can be a contributing factor if a genuine safety risk can be proven.
To register to vote anonymously, you cannot use the standard voter registration process. Instead, you must complete a separate application form and provide evidence to support your claim that your safety, or the safety of someone in your household, would be compromised. The steps are:
i) Obtain the correct form: You will need to contact your local Electoral Registration Office to request an anonymous registration application form.
ii) Provide supporting evidence: This is a critical part of the application. The evidence must come from a qualifying source and support your claim of a safety risk. This can include:
a) A court order, such as an injunction or restraining order.
b) A letter or attestation from a senior police officer (at the rank of inspector or above).
c) A letter from the Director General of the Security Service or the National Crime Agency.
d) A letter from a social worker or a refuge manager.
iii) Submitting the application: The completed form and supporting evidence must be submitted to your local Electoral Registration Office.
If your application is successful, your name and address will not appear on either the full electoral register or the open register. Instead, you will be assigned a voter number, and your entry will be marked as anonymous. This allows you to vote without revealing your personal details.
Anonymous registration is valid for one year, and you will need to renew your application annually by providing updated evidence of the ongoing risk. This ensures that the system is reserved for those who genuinely need this level of protection.
For those who do not qualify for anonymous registration but still have concerns, it is important to remember to opt out of the open register. While this will not remove your details from the full register, it will prevent your information from being bought and used for general marketing and other non-electoral purposes.
The main requirement is a National Insurance number. If unavailable, other evidence (such as identity documents) may be requested. Overseas voters may be asked for supporting documents like a UK passport or proof of residency.
Anonymous registration is aa crucial safeguard exists: This legal provision allows individuals to register to vote without their name and address appearing on any version of the electoral register, including the full register provided to political parties and credit reference agencies. This measure is specifically designed for those who can demonstrate that they, or another member of their household, would be in danger if their details were published. This could include individuals at risk of domestic abuse, stalking, or those in professions that might make them a target, such as law enforcement or the judiciary. While being a celebrity or a high-profile figure does not automatically grant the right to anonymous registration, it can be a contributing factor if a genuine safety risk can be proven.
To register to vote anonymously, you cannot use the standard voter registration process. Instead, you must complete a separate application form and provide evidence to support your claim that your safety, or the safety of someone in your household, would be compromised. The steps are:
i) Obtain the correct form: You will need to contact your local Electoral Registration Office to request an anonymous registration application form.
ii) Provide supporting evidence: This is a critical part of the application. The evidence must come from a qualifying source and support your claim of a safety risk. This can include:
a) A court order, such as an injunction or restraining order.
b) A letter or attestation from a senior police officer (at the rank of inspector or above).
c) A letter from the Director General of the Security Service or the National Crime Agency.
d) A letter from a social worker or a refuge manager.
iii) Submitting the application: The completed form and supporting evidence must be submitted to your local Electoral Registration Office.
If your application is successful, your name and address will not appear on either the full electoral register or the open register. Instead, you will be assigned a voter number, and your entry will be marked as anonymous. This allows you to vote without revealing your personal details.
Anonymous registration is valid for one year, and you will need to renew your application annually by providing updated evidence of the ongoing risk. This ensures that the system is reserved for those who genuinely need this level of protection.
For those who do not qualify for anonymous registration but still have concerns, it is important to remember to opt out of the open register. While this will not remove your details from the full register, it will prevent your information from being bought and used for general marketing and other non-electoral purposes.
Registration typically closes 12 working days before polling day. The exact deadline is published ahead of each election.
When registering to vote, you can opt out of the open register. If already registered, contact your local registration office or update preferences online.
British citizens: all elections
Irish citizens: UK Parliamentary, devolved, and local
Qualifying Commonwealth citizens: UK Parliamentary, devolved, and local
EU citizens (with settled/pre-settled status): local and devolved elections only (not Parliamentary).
Disqualified individuals include convicted prisoners, those found guilty of certain electoral offences, and people legally incapable because of mental incapacity (subject to current laws), except where specifically permitted.
Anyone who is a British citizen, a qualifying Commonwealth citizen, a citizen of the Republic of Ireland, or (for some elections) a citizen of an EU country, aged 16 or over (18 to vote), and resident at a UK address can register.
Common reasons include not registering at a current address, missing the annual canvass, changes of address not notified, name changes not updated, or administrative errors. Contact your local electoral registration office for clarification.