Welcome to Your Vote Week 2026

Monday 9th March to Sunday 15th March 2026

You can register regardless of your nationality as long as you are resident in Scotland and over 14 years of age.

To register to vote, visit www.gov.uk/register-to-vote and you can register online.

Absent Voting (postal or proxy) forms can be downloaded from our website.

The Scottish Parliamentary Elections are coming on the 7th May 2026 and you can check out our dedicated page to the election. , but if you want to find out what elections are coming up, enter your postcode.

Watch our short two part video on Getting Ready to Vote

 

Full transcript is below

Transcript: Get ready to vote! A guide for young people who can vote for the first time

14-18 Years old?

Young people living in Scotland can vote from the age of 16 onwards depending on the type of election.

You can register to vote as soon as you turn 14.

Registering to vote means signing up to have your name on the electoral register after you turn 16.

What is the electoral register?

The electoral register is a list of everyone who is registered to vote. It is published once a month, which means you need to register in advance. You can’t decide to register on the day you want to vote.

What happens when you register?

You give your details, and they are checked against government records to establish that you are a real person who is eligible to vote.

You then make some choices about how you will vote and if you would like to be on the open register.

The open register is a version of the register which companies and charities can buy so they can send adverts to people. No one under 16 is on this register, but you can choose to add your name later if you like.

How do I register to vote?

You can register:

• Online at gov.uk/register-to-vote.
• By telephone on 01786 892289.
• By calling into our office in Stirling.
• By completing a paper form.

What info do you need?

You will need to provide your National Insurance number, if you have one, as part of your application.

If you don’t have a National Insurance number, we may contact you to confirm your ID another way.

Ways you can vote:
In Person

You go along to the polling station on the day and physically cast your vote.

By Post

You receive your vote in the mail and post it back before the election day.

By Proxy

You tell us the name of someone you trust who you’ve chosen to go to the polling station if you can’t go. Anyone can do this for a single election, but there are strict rules about who can have a permanent proxy vote, usually to do with work or disabilities.

Registering to vote is important: so you can have your say!

Only around one third of young people in Central Scotland are registered to vote.

Being registered is important so you can have your voice heard, but there are other benefits too!

Registering to vote is important: For your credit rating & fraud prevention!

The electoral register is used for fraud prevention and credit checking.

This means that finance companies us it when the decide who can get things like a loan or phone contract. There are still benefits even if you decide not to vote!

Keep in Touch!

Contact us and follow our socials for up to date and reliable information on voting and elections.

See our website in our bio for more details!