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Five minutes, and it costs nothing
If you've moved in the last two years, assume you're not registered.
Registration doesn't follow you when you move. A council tax bill doesn't do it, a driving licence doesn't do it, and being on the register at your parents' address doesn't cover the flat you live in now. That one fact is why most people who turn up to vote are turned away.
3Deadlines, not one
5 minStart to finish
2Registers — you can opt out of one
0Reasons it costs anything
Who can register, including the cases nobody prints
Moved recently — Register again at the new address. The old entry does not transfer and it does not tell anybody you have gone
Two addresses — Students and some others may be registered at both, while still only voting once in the same election. The registration officer decides that, not this page
No fixed address — There is a route for this almost everywhere — a declaration of local connection or its local equivalent. Ask for it by name at the office
Temporary accommodation — A hostel, a refuge or a hotel does not stop you registering. It changes which form you use, not whether you can
Recently released — Rules vary enormously by place and change often. Ask the registration office directly rather than trusting a forum answer
Not a citizen — Some elections are open to some non-citizens and some are not. The office will tell you which of them apply to you
Two addresses — Students and some others may be registered at both, while still only voting once in the same election. The registration officer decides that, not this page
No fixed address — There is a route for this almost everywhere — a declaration of local connection or its local equivalent. Ask for it by name at the office
Temporary accommodation — A hostel, a refuge or a hotel does not stop you registering. It changes which form you use, not whether you can
Recently released — Rules vary enormously by place and change often. Ask the registration office directly rather than trusting a forum answer
Not a citizen — Some elections are open to some non-citizens and some are not. The office will tell you which of them apply to you
Eligibility is decided by the electoral registration officer for your area — not by this campaign and not by this page. Replace the lines above with the rules where you are, and put the official link beside them, before publishing.
There are two registers, and one of them is sold
The full register — Used for elections and for confirming who you are. Everybody who registers is on this one
The open version — In many places a second, edited register can be bought by anybody at all, companies included
You can usually opt out — Of the second one only. It is one tick on the same form and most people never notice it is there
Opting out changes nothing about voting — Not your eligibility, not your polling station, not anything. It removes you from the copy that is sold and that is all
If you already registered — You can still opt out afterwards. Ask the office — it is a single line in an email
Where this doesn't apply — Some places have only one register. Check yours, and delete this whole section if it isn't a thing where you are
The open version — In many places a second, edited register can be bought by anybody at all, companies included
You can usually opt out — Of the second one only. It is one tick on the same form and most people never notice it is there
Opting out changes nothing about voting — Not your eligibility, not your polling station, not anything. It removes you from the copy that is sold and that is all
If you already registered — You can still opt out afterwards. Ask the office — it is a single line in an email
Where this doesn't apply — Some places have only one register. Check yours, and delete this whole section if it isn't a thing where you are
If being on a public list would put you in danger
Anonymous registration exists — In many places you can be on the register with your name and address withheld, so you can vote without appearing on any list
What it usually needs — Evidence — a court order, or a letter from a police officer, a refuge worker or a social worker. Ask which of those your office accepts
What it does not do — It does not hide you from anything else at all. It covers the electoral register, and nothing beyond it
Don't put your address in a form to ask — Ring, or use an email you are safe on. Find out how to apply before you send anything with your address in it
Somebody can help you do it — A refuge worker or an advice service will have done this before. It is a known route rather than an unusual request
If it isn't available where you are — Say that here plainly and point at the nearest equivalent, rather than leaving the section blank
What it usually needs — Evidence — a court order, or a letter from a police officer, a refuge worker or a social worker. Ask which of those your office accepts
What it does not do — It does not hide you from anything else at all. It covers the electoral register, and nothing beyond it
Don't put your address in a form to ask — Ring, or use an email you are safe on. Find out how to apply before you send anything with your address in it
Somebody can help you do it — A refuge worker or an advice service will have done this before. It is a known route rather than an unusual request
If it isn't available where you are — Say that here plainly and point at the nearest equivalent, rather than leaving the section blank
Three deadlines, and they are in the wrong order
Registering
The last of the three, and still earlier than people expect. Usually a couple of weeks before polling day.
A postal vote
Earlier than registering — and you have to be registered first, which is why this one catches people out.
A proxy
Somebody voting on your behalf. Earlier again, with a later emergency route if something happens afterwards.
The emergency route
Illness, work, an accident after the proxy deadline. There is usually a late emergency proxy — ask on the day rather than assuming.
Identification
Some places require photo ID at the station and some don't. Where it is required there is a free document you can apply for, and its deadline is earlier again.
Where your papers go
A postal ballot goes to the address on the register. If you're about to move, say so, or it goes to the old one.
Put your three real dates in here. The order surprises people every single election: the thing you need first has the earliest deadline.
If you've been told you can't
At the polling station — Ask for the presiding officer, by that title. They can check the register and they are the person who decides in the room
If you're still turned away — Ask for the reason and write it down with the time. That note is what makes a complaint possible afterwards
If the office says no — Ask which rule, in writing. A decision you can see the reason for is a decision you can challenge
Challenging it — There is a formal route almost everywhere and it is usually free. The office has to tell you what it is when you ask
A ballot set aside — In some places you can vote on a separate paper that is counted later if you turn out to have been right. Ask for it by name
Tell somebody afterwards — Even if you got in. A station that wrongly turns one person away has almost certainly turned away others
If you're still turned away — Ask for the reason and write it down with the time. That note is what makes a complaint possible afterwards
If the office says no — Ask which rule, in writing. A decision you can see the reason for is a decision you can challenge
Challenging it — There is a formal route almost everywhere and it is usually free. The office has to tell you what it is when you ask
A ballot set aside — In some places you can vote on a separate paper that is counted later if you turn out to have been right. Ask for it by name
Tell somebody afterwards — Even if you got in. A station that wrongly turns one person away has almost certainly turned away others
Get a reminder before the deadline
We cannot register you. Only the electoral office can do that, it is free, and it takes about five minutes. What this does is send you one message before the deadline, because forgetting is what actually stops people rather than unwillingness.
Get a reminder before the deadline
"No — the reminder only" is the most-picked answer and it is meant literally: one message, then nothing, and the address is deleted after the election.
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