How do I register to vote?
Each person must register to vote individually, providing their National Insurance number and date of birth. This will enable applications to be verified before they are added to the register.
You can register to vote any time of the year online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote - it's free, quick and easy. You just need your National Insurance number. It's on pay slips, letters about benefits, tax returns, and other official correspondence. Find out what to do if you can't find your National Insurance number.
The deadline to register to vote in the elections taking place on 2nd May 2024 has now passed.
You can still register to vote for any elections after this date.
How long does it take?
It usually takes around a month from when you register to get onto the electoral register. The 2024 deadlines are:
- Friday 10 May 2024 to go onto the Electoral Register on Monday 3 June 2024
- Friday 7 June 2024 to go onto the Electoral Register on Monday 1 July 2024
- Wednesday 10 July 2024 to go onto the Electoral Register on Thursday 1August 2024
- Friday 9 August 2024 to go onto the Electoral Register on Monday 2 September 2024
- Monday 9 September 2024 to go onto the Electoral Register on Tuesday 1 October 2024
- Thursday 10 October 2024 to go onto the Electoral Register on Friday 1 November 2024
Who can register to vote?
- Anyone aged 16 or over but you cannot vote until you are 18
- Those who normally live in your household but are away for the time being - for example on holiday, as students, or in hospital (including voluntary patients in psychiatric hospitals)
- Anyone who is away working, unless they are away for more than six months
- Any other residents, lodgers or guests (but not short-stay visitors) in your household, whether this is a private address, a hostel or a club
- British citizens living abroad can be registered if they have been previously registered or previously resident in the UK
- Members of the Armed Forces, Crown Servants, etc. and their partners must register annually, but can do so as 'Service' etc., voters or as ordinary voters
- British or Commonwealth Citizens
- Citizens of the Republic of Ireland or other European Union (EU) countries
British citizens, Irish citizens and citizens of Commonwealth countries (including Cyprus and Malta) can vote at all elections.
Citizens of other EU countries can vote in local government elections but cannot vote in UK Parliamentary elections.
From May 2024, some EU citizens will not be able to vote and stand as a candidate in certain elections in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
EU citizens will continue to be able to vote while they remain on the register, but will not be able to re-register once they are taken off after May 2024.
EU citizens where the UK Government has negotiated agreements with EU Members of States to allow its citizens living in the UK to vote, in return for the same right for Uk citizens living in that country, will still be able to vote and stand in elections.
So far these agreements have been made with
- Spain
- Portugal
- Luxembourg
- Poland
- Denmark
These changes will not affect citizens of the Republic of Ireland or citizens of Commonwealth nations.
Overseas Electors
British citizens (which includes eligible Irish citizens and citizens of the Crown Dependencies) may register as overseas electors if they are now living abroad, providing they are:
- a person who was previously registered to vote in the UK, either before they left the UK or as an overseas elector - known as the previously registered condition
- a person who was previously resident in the UK (including those who left the UK before they were old enough to register to vote) - known as the previously resident condition
Applicants must apply to register as an overseas elector in respect of the address where they were last registered to vote in the UK or, if they have never been registered, the last address at which they were resident in the UK.
For further information please contact Electoral Services on electors@sefton.gov.uk
Students
Students can register at their home address and their university address. It is an offence to vote more than once in a national election, but you can vote in local elections at both addresses.
Anonymous registration
Anonymous registration is available to people whose safety would be at risk if their name or address were listed on the electoral register. Other persons in the same household also qualify to register as anonymous electors and may also apply for anonymous registration if they wish.
For further information or to register please contact electors@sefton.gov.uk.
Homeless or have no fixed address
If you are homeless, rough sleeping or in temporary accommodation you can still register to vote. You can arrange to vote in a polling station close to where you are living or where you spend time during the day.
If you are looking for more information, advice for the following people is available on the Electoral Commission website - a patient in a mental health hospital, homeless, a merchant seaman, part of the gypsy or travelling community, living on a boat or other moveable residence and a person remanded in custody.