Registering to Vote
Voting at elections and referendums in the UK
Different elections and referendums in the UK have different rules about who can vote. This means that not everyone can vote in every situation.
Whether you can vote in an election or referendum will depend on:
- your age
- your nationality
- where you live – in the UK or overseas
- most importantly, whether you have registered to vote
To register to vote at any election, you must be:
- A UK or Irish citizen
- A qualifying Commonwealth citizen living in the UK
- An EU citizen living in the UK
- Aged 16 or over (but you can’t vote until you’re 18 years old)
You can register to vote now by clicking here.
You will be asked for your National Insurance number (but you can still register if you do not have one).
To vote in the forthcoming local elections on 2nd May you must have registered to vote by 16th April.
If you want to vote in person, including those acting as a proxy on behalf of another individual, you will need to bring an accepted form of identification (ID) to the polling station to get your ballot papers.
Voters who do not produce a Voter Authority Certificate, or valid photo identification will not be allowed to vote on the day.
You can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate online by clicking here.
The deadline to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate is 5pm Wednesday 24 April 2024.
Overseas Voters
British or eligible Irish citizens living outside of the UK can be registered to vote at UK Parliamentary elections as Overseas Voters .
Since 16th January 2024, British or eligible Irish citizens who have been living abroad for more than 15 years have regained their right to vote in UK general elections, a change which mirrors the legal rights that citizens of other countries have such as Canada, France, Japan and the United States, to name but a few.
To register to vote as an Overseas Voter:
You will need to register to be able to vote in UK elections using this link. Your registration lasts up to 3 years. You’ll get a reminder when it’s time to renew.
You can apply for either a postal vote or a proxy vote, where you nominate someone to vote on your behalf. You’ll be asked to make this choice when you register to vote
You can submit your application for a postal vote online using this link, or a proxy vote online using this link.
Need help in finding someone to vote as your proxy?
If you are a Labour supporter and voter and you are having difficulties finding someone to vote on your behalf in Cheltenham then contact us at Cheltenham Labour Party and we will help find someone to act as your proxy.
What if you have lived outside of the UK for more than 15 years?
If you haven’t lived in the UK for 15 years or longer, you will need to apply to register in the local authority of the last address where you lived or were registered to vote.
You will need to provide the details of the address you lived and when you lived there, enabling the local authority to verify your identity and previous connection to the area.
If you were a child when you last lived in the UK, you will still be able to register to vote so long as you are a UK citizen and can provide details of your last UK address and when you lived there.