Website of the UK government

Registering to vote

To vote in UK elections and referendums, you must be on the electoral register (the list of eligible voters). Find out more in 'Registering to vote'.

• Registering to vote

How to vote at a polling station

You can vote at a local polling station – usually a nearby school or hall. You'll get a poll card before the election, telling you where and when to vote. Polling stations are open from 7.00 am to 10.00 pm.

When you go to vote, the staff will check your name and address and give you a ballot paper. Read the ballot paper carefully. It will list the parties and candidates you can vote for, and tell you how to cast your vote.

No one is entitled to see who you're voting for – the voting takes place in a screened booth. When you've marked your vote, fold the ballot paper in half and put it in the ballot box.

If you're not sure what to do, ask the staff to help you.

• Voting in elections for disabled voters (disabled people section)
• Easy-read guide to voting - a simple illustrated booklet Opens new window

How to vote by post

If you live in the UK or abroad and apply in time, you can vote by post. Anyone can apply for a postal vote – you don't need to give a reason.

A postal vote can be sent to your home address or to any other address that you choose. You can apply to vote by post for just one election, for a specific period, or permanently.

For security, you'll need to give your date of birth and signature when you apply, and again whenever you vote by post. Complete your ballot paper in secret, seal it up yourself, and take it to the post box yourself if you can.

You can find out more and apply for a postal vote by printing an application form from About My Vote, or by contacting your local electoral registration office.

• Apply for a postal vote through the About My Vote website Opens new window

How to vote by proxy

If you live in the UK or abroad and you're unable to vote in person, you can ask someone to vote on your behalf, and tell them who to vote for. This is called a proxy vote. When you apply for a proxy vote, you have to give a valid reason.

You can apply to vote by proxy for just one election, for a specific period, or permanently. Your application may have to be supported by someone like your doctor or employer. There are different application forms depending on your situation:

• for a particular election (for example, you will be away on holiday)
• because of a disability
• because of your employment
• because you are on an educational course
• because you are living overseas
• for Crown Servants or members of Her Majesty's Armed Forces
• because of a medical emergency

You can find out more and print an application form from About My Vote, or contact your local electoral registration office.

• Apply for a proxy vote through the About My Vote website Opens new window
• Find your local electoral registration office Opens new window
• Voting from abroad

Why your vote counts

The About My Vote website helps you to find out more about how to vote and what you're voting for. It tells you which elections are coming up in your area, and provides registration forms and contact details for your local electoral registration office.

You'll need to know your postcode or local authority to use the website.

• About My Vote website Opens new window

Your right to vote

You can vote in UK parliamentary elections once you are on the electoral register and provided that you are also:

• aged 18 or over on polling day
• a British citizen, or a Commonwealth citizen or a citizen of the Irish Republic (and resident in the United Kingdom)
• not subject to any legal incapacity to vote (for example, if you are in prison)

At a general election, the following people cannot vote:

• anyone under 18 years old
• members of the House of Lords, including life peers, Church of England archbishops and bishops, and hereditary peers who have retained their seat in the House of Lords - these people can, however, vote at elections to local authorities, devolved legislatures and the European Parliament
• European Union citizens - they can, however, vote at local government, devolved legislature and European parliamentary election level
• citizens of any country apart from the Irish Republic and Commonwealth countries
• convicted persons detained in pursuance of their sentences - although remand prisoners, unconvicted prisoners and civil prisoners in default of fine or breach of 'recognisance' (an obligation to the court or magistrate) can vote if they are on the electoral register
• anyone found guilty within the previous five years of corrupt or illegal practices in connection with an election

Preventing election fraud

There are laws and security measures to prevent electoral fraud. It is an offence to:

• falsely apply for a postal or proxy vote
• supply false information or fail to supply information to the electoral registration officer at any time
• unduly influence someone, even if it does not affect the way they vote

Ballot papers have a security mark and a barcode, to enable security checks for lost or stolen postal votes. After every election, a list of who voted by post will be published (similar to the list for polling stations), so you can check that your vote was counted. In an investigation, the police can ask people whether they did actually vote by post.

You can apply to observe election proceedings in polling stations, at the issue and receipt of postal ballot papers, and at the counting of votes.

• Election observers