If you voted in May 2017 local elections you will most likely be on the register, unless you have moved house since. If you have moved then nip over to http://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote and do it now, it only takes a couple of minutes to do.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO VOTE?
To vote at the UK general election you must be registered to vote and:
To vote at the UK general election you must be registered to vote and:
- be 18 years of age or over on polling day
- be a British, Irish or qualifying Commonwealth citizen
- be resident at an address in the UK (or a UK citizen living abroad who has been registered to vote in the UK in the last 15 years)
- not be legally excluded from voting
- members of the House of Lords
- EU citizens (other than UK, Republic of Ireland, Cyprus and Malta) resident in the UK
- anyone other than British, Irish and qualifying Commonwealth citizens
- convicted persons detained in pursuance of their sentences, excluding contempt of court (though remand prisoners, unconvicted prisoners and civil prisoners can vote if they are on the electoral register)
- anyone found guilty within the previous five years of corrupt or illegal practices in connection with an election
HAVE YOU MOVED HOUSE RECENTLY?
If so then make sure you have registered at your new address or you will lose your right to vote.
UNIVERSITY STUDENTS CAN REGISTER AT HOME AND AT THEIR TERM-TIME ADDRESS
Many students will have left their term-time address and gone home by 8th June, but some may still be at uni-digs, or even going off to do something exciting once their uni course ends. Besides being able to register at home they can also register at their uni address and vote at whichever is the most convenient location (choose one - you cannot vote at both!)
AWAY FROM HOME ON 8th JUNE: on HOLIDAY or WORKING ELSEWHERE
Don't worry, you can still vote, either by post or by proxy.
If you want to apply for a postal vote your application must be received by 5pm Tuesday 23 May.
"I HAVE A POSTAL VOTE BUT FORGOT TO POST IT, WHAT CAN I DO?"
Those who have applied to vote by post cannot vote in person at the polling station.
However, you can return your postal vote to the polling station on polling day, before 10pm, to the Returning Officer.
You can also return it to your local council – before they close (usually by 5pm but do check with your local council office) – if you do not want to post it, or it is too late to post it back.
"I'M HOMELESS, CAN I VOTE?" "I'M A TRAVELLER, CAN I VOTE?" "I LIVE ON A BOAT, CAN I VOTE?" "I'M LIVING ELSEWHERE, CAN I VOTE?"
You can still register to vote even if you do not have a fixed address. This may be because you are:
- A patient in a mental health hospital
- Homeless
- A merchant seaman
- Part of the gypsy or travelling community
- Living on a boat or other moveable residence
- A person remanded in custody
To register, you need to give an address where you would be living if it
were not for your current situation or an address where you have lived
in the past. If you are homeless, you can give details of where you
spend a substantial part of your time, e.g. a night shelter etc.
If you are staying at an address for an extended length of time then you can be considered as residing there and can register for that address. This could be a hospital, hostel, prison facility or similar place.
You can register by filling in a form called a 'Declaration of local connection'. You can download a Register to vote form (no fixed address) from gov.uk. There are two forms - one for people in England and Wales and one for people in Scotland. Alternatively, you can get the form from your local electoral registration office.
Find the contact details for your local electoral registration office.
People wishing to register in Northern Ireland should download the declaration of local connection form from the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland website.
HOW TO REGISTER?
If you are sick on 8 June or are unable to vote because of unforeseen circumstances you can apply for an emergency proxy vote.
You will need your National Insurance number to register to vote - you can usually find this on your payslip, a benefits letter, a tax form, etc...
Fill in the form before 22nd May 2017 to ensure you can use your vote.
THEN WHAT?
Once the local returning office (usually your local council) receives your application via the gov.uk website it will add your details to the electoral register and send you a polling card by post. Some councils also send out a confirmation letter to let you know they have had your application to register and/or a confirmation that you have been registered.
WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU FALL ILL, OR HAVE AN ACCIDENT, OR SOMETHING ELSE SERIOUS HAPPENS AND YOU CANNOT REACH YOUR POLLING STATION ON THE DAY?
In certain circumstances like this you can apply for an emergency proxy vote.
If you are sick on 8 June or are unable to vote because of unforeseen circumstances you can apply for an emergency proxy vote.
You can apply for an emergency proxy vote up until 5pm Thursday 8 June.
DOES IT MATTER?
It doesn't matter HOW you vote, but it does matter THAT you vote. Don't leave the decision of how this country is governed to others. Have YOUR say. Register today. YOU have a part to play in how our country is run. That is what DEMOCRACY is all about.
