Young people & elections
You must be 18 or over to vote but can register to vote at 16.
You then need to register every year even if your details haven't changed; you can do this by making sure your details are included on the registration form sent to your home in September and confirming the details.
Elections can be called at short notice and if you're not registered, you can't vote.
Register to vote
Applications must be received no later than 5pm, 11 working days before election day.
Students studying away from home
Students are entitled to register at both their home and their term-time address, but cannot of course vote twice at the same election, meaning that at a general election or national referendum they would need to decide in which area to vote.
For more information visit:
Ways you can vote
Once you are registered, there are three ways you can vote:
- In person at the polling station stated on your polling card
- By post - apply to vote by post
- By proxy - name someone else to vote on your behalf - Request to vote by proxy
Elections you can vote in
You can vote in elections for:
- Local council members - County, District, Town, Parish
- Member of Parliament (MP)
- Member of the European Parliament (MEP)
- Police and Crime Commissioner.
