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Registering to Vote

You will not be able to obtain a vote if it is over 15 years since you were registered to vote in Britain.

To vote in UK elections your name must appear on the electoral register.  Once registered as an overseas elector you will be able to vote in Parliamentary elections and European elections in the UK but not in local government elections.

The electoral register is compiled by each local authority. To register you should contact the electoral registration officer at the address of the local council offices where you last registered when living in the UK or if you left the UK before you were old enough to register the electoral registration officer for the area where you last lived. They will send you the forms.

If you have Internet access you can find contact details for your local council by visiting the website www.upmystreet.co.uk and entering the postcode of your last UK address.

Overseas electors are eligible to register for up to 15 years after they were last registered. The Register of Electors is updated every month. You can return your application form at any time but the electoral registration office must receive the form within 3 months of your signing and dating it. 

You will need to register each year. The electoral registration office should send you a reminder 2-3 months before your registration expires. With your registration form you will also be sent information on proxy and postal voting.  As postal voting is extremely problematical from overseas, due to postal delays, we recommend appointing a proxy.