Registering to vote

You can use this service to:

• get on the electoral register so you can vote in elections or referendums
• update your name, address or nationality by registering again with your new details
• get on or off the open register
   

How to register if you're not already registered

You can apply to register via the government website. It's simple, quick and secure.  Remember to have your national insurance number to hand before you start.

Register to vote
 

If you prefer, you can also download a paper registration form on the GOV.UK website to complete and return by post, or you can scan and email it to us.

You can only register yourself to vote. You can't register a family member, even if they live in the same property.

Easy read guide

Read a step-by-step, easy read guide to registering to vote. This guide on GOV.UK is an example of an application to register to vote.

How to register when you move house

When you move house within the district you need to re-register by visiting the registering to vote page on GOV.UK where you can enter the details of your new address and provide us with the details of the address you have moved from.

How to register if you live abroad or are away from home

From 16 January 2024 British citizens living overseas no longer have a 15 year limit on voting rights and the registration period has changed. Find out more about these changes to overseas voting on The Electoral Commission site.

Overseas electors can only vote at a parliamentary general election and at national referenda. Make sure that you register in time to vote at the general election in 2024. When you register to vote as an overseas elector you will stay on the register for 3 years before you are contacted to renew your registration.

If you are an existing overseas elector with us, you should wait for us to contact you about renewing as you cannot do this online, but please ensure you have an absent vote set up (postal or proxy).

Important- please make sure as soon as you have registered as an overseas elector that you set up a postal or proxy vote as that is how you will vote. Bear in mind that the election timetable is tight at an election and there is a limited time frame for you to receive, complete and return a postal vote. If your post from the UK takes more than 2 weeks to arrive, we would advise you arranging for a proxy to vote on your behalf in the UK. If they do not live close to conveniently vote in Uttlesford they can arrange to be a postal proxy.  

There are special arrangement for you to register to vote if:

• You are a student and you have two addresses
• You are as a Crown servant or as a British Council employee
• You are a member of the armed forces
• You have no fixed address

What happens when you apply to register

When you register online or by returning a paper form your details will be checked against other records to confirm your identity.

If your details are confirmed, you will receive a letter telling you that you have been successfully registered.

If your details cannot be confirmed, we will write to you asking for more information to confirm your identity. The letter will explain what you will need to do.
 

Watch a video of how to register online

Watch a short demo video on YouTube showing you how you can register online to vote.

Students

If you are going to university please ensure that you stay registered at your parental home within the district and stay registered until such time as you move permanently out of the family home.

There is nothing stopping you also registering at your university to vote.  Any offence is voting twice in the same election e.g. a parliamentary general election.

Important - if you register at the university and move address each year and have a postal vote - tell us your new address for the postal vote so it doesn't go to the wrong address.

Young people - 16 plus registration

National Insurance numbers are allocated to 16 year olds and the letter about this sent by the government makes reference to being able to register to vote from 16, but not actually vote until the age of 18. The Labour Government is looking at lowering the voting age in England.

It is important to get registered - what we call a pre-attainer - someone under 18 who has not attained the legal age to vote yet.

Parents and guardians - please ensure you include all 16 plus children in our annual canvass returns and encourage them to register to vote as soon as they are eligible.

Euro electors

As a consequence of the UK leaving the European Union, European electors are being reviewed during 2024 to check their continued eligibility to stay registered to vote.

• Local Voting Rights for EU Citizens Living in the UK - GOV.UK
• Changes for EU Citizens - Electoral Commission

Currently nationals of 5 European countries have an automatic right to stay registered or be automatically registered to vote from next applications, these include:

• Denmark
• Luxembourg
• Poland
• Portugal
• Spain

Citizens of other European countries can stay registered to vote if you have:

• Permission to enter or stay in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man (also called Leave to Enter or Remain) means you have a legal immigration status.
• Settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, except if you applied as a joining family member, you are eligible to remain registered to vote.
• If on or before 31 December 2020, you had indefinite or limited Leave to Enter or Remain in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man, and this has continued without a break, you are eligible to remain registered to vote.

Alternatively, if on or before 31 December 2020 you were resident in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man but did not need permission to enter or stay because you were exempt from immigration controls, and this has continued without a break, you are eligible to remain registered to vote.

EU nationals have all been sent a communication during summer 2024 - either to say that you are eligible to stay registered and be able to vote in local elections but not a parliamentary general election or a Review of Entitlement email or letter asking the following question:

Question - Your immigration status

Since 31 December 2020 have you continuously had permission to enter or stay in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man, or not needed permission?

Answer 'Yes' if one or more of the following applied to you on or before 31 December 2020 and has continued without a break:

• settled or pre-settled status under the EU settlement scheme, except if you applied as a joining family member
• indefinite or limited Leave to Enter or Remain in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man
• resident in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man but exempt from immigration controls.

If your answer to the question is:

• YES you will continue to stay on the register of electors and be able to vote and stand in local elections
• NO and you will be removed from the register

If you do not respond to our review you will also be removed from the register  

Anonymous registration

Legislation came into effect in 2007 which enables persons who would be at risk of danger if their name and address were to appear in the electoral register to register anonymously.

For example, you can apply if:

• you are escaping from domestic violence
• your occupation means you must keep your identity private.

You cannot use anonymous registration as an ex-directory scheme.

This means that only an electoral number would be shown in the register under a separate section. All electoral documents would be treated in strict confidence and not available to the general public. This also applies to any person living in the same household as another person who is at risk.

Application forms and further information can be obtained from the Electoral Commission. Please contact us if you wish to discuss the matter.

If you application is successful, your anonymous registration lasts for one year. We will write to you three months before your registration is due to expire.

Voter ID

Electors are required to show an accepted form of photographic identification to cast their vote in person as from May 2023. Find out what are accepted forms of photo identification.

If you don't already have an accepted form of photo ID, or you're not sure whether your photo ID still looks like you, you can apply for a free voter ID document know as a Voter Authority Certificate (VAC).

Change of address

Registering to vote does not automatically mean you are on the Council Tax register.  If you have either moved into the district or within the district, please register for Council Tax at your new address. You can find out how to do this on our Moving house? page.

Change of name

If you have recently changed your name, such as through marriage or by deed poll, the register of electors needs to be updated to enable you to vote.

Please complete the Change of name on electoral register form and submit it with supporting evidence.

We need to see evidence of your new name via an official document such as a copy of your new passport or driving licence; a copy of your deed poll or if it is due to marriage, your marriage certificate.

Get help registering

You can get advice about registering to vote from the electoral office.

Get a certificate of residency

To get proof that you are on the current register of electors for your address you can ask for a certificate of residency.