The Electoral Register

You can register to vote online:

Or by using the QR code below:

You will need to provide some personal information including your national insurance number and date of birth. You can find your national insurance number on official paperwork such as payslips or letters about benefits or tax credits. Providing this information makes the electoral register more secure. Registering online only takes a couple of minutes.

Or request a paper Invitation to Register:

If you would prefer, we can arrange to send a paper application form to you. Please call us on 0800 393 783.

Annual Canvass of Electors 2023

By law the Electoral Registration Officer is required to carry out an annual canvass of electors from 1st July to 30th November each year.

We will be getting in touch with every household to check that the electoral register is up to date, and to identify any residents who should be registered but are currently missing.

The Electoral Registration Officer will issue a form or letter to all households containing the names currently on the register at that address. The communication will indicate if a response is required or not.

For further information on our annual canvass of electors please call us on 0800 393 783.

Scottish elections

The voting age for Scottish elections has been permanently lowered to 16. You just need to register first. It only takes a few minutes and you can do it online.

You’ll need to provide your date of birth and National Insurance number (you only need your National Insurance number if you are 16 or over), which you can find on official documents such as letters from HM Revenue and Customs. Otherwise, for help you can visit: www.gov.uk/lost-national-insurance-number

Don’t worry – if you are not yet 16 you will not need your National Insurance number to register.

Removing your details from the open register

If you would like your details removed from the open register you need to contact the Electoral Registration Officer. Contact details can be found here. Details on the open register can be found at the bottom of this page.

Find out more at www.gov.uk/electoral-register

How to vote

If you are on the electoral register you will be sent a poll card just before an election. You can vote:
•In person
•By post
•By proxy

Right to vote

There are two distinct electoral franchises: parliamentary and local government.

Electoral Register and Open Register

Electoral Registration Officers keep two registers using information received from the public:
•The Electoral Register
•The Open Register (previously known as the Edited Register)