If you’re a British citizen who previously lived in the UK, you can register as an overseas voter. You’ll need the postcode of the last UK address where you were registered to vote. If you’ve never registered, use the postcode of the last UK address where you lived. You may also be asked for your passport details.
Overseas registration lets you vote in UK Parliamentary elections. You must renew it every three years. Read more about voting from abroad.
If you split your time between two homes, you may be able to register at both addresses. This can include students with a home and term-time address, people who live at two family addresses, and people who own and live in two properties. Each application for a second address is considered individually, including how much time you spend living there. Owning a property alone is not enough.
Being registered at two addresses does not always mean you can vote twice. You must choose one address for a UK Parliamentary election, UK referendum, London Assembly election or London Mayoral election. Voting at both addresses in one of these elections is a criminal offence.
For local council elections in England, and for Police and Crime Commissioner and mayoral elections, you may vote in both areas if the addresses are in different council areas and you are eligible to vote in both elections. Check the rules for voting from two addresses.
You can register as a Crown servant voter if you are:
• a Crown servant, such as a diplomat or an overseas civil servant
• a British Council employee
• the spouse or civil partner of a Crown servant or British Council employee.
To register, have your National Insurance number (if you have one) or another identity document, such as a passport, and your payroll or staff ID number, usually shown on your payslip.
Register as a Crown servant or British Council employee on GOV.UK.
Members of the Armed Forces and their spouses or civil partners can choose to register as service voters or in the usual way.
If you’re based overseas or expect to be posted abroad in the next year, you can register as a service voter. You’ll remain registered at a fixed UK address even if you move around, and the registration lasts up to five years. You can cancel it at any time.
If you’re based in the UK and unlikely to move or be posted abroad in the next year, you can register to vote in the usual way. Otherwise, register as a service voter. You’ll need your service number and National Insurance number, if you have one.
You can still register to vote if you do not have a fixed address. This could be because you:
• are homeless
• live on a houseboat or other moveable residence without a permanent mooring or site
• are a patient in a mental health hospital
• have been remanded in custody but have not been convicted of an offence.
To register, give the address where you would be living if it were not for your current situation, or an address where you lived in the past. If you are homeless, you can give details of a place where you spend a substantial part of your time. Download the form on GOV.UK, or contact Electoral Services if you need a paper copy or help with it.
You may be able to register anonymously if you think your name and address appearing on the electoral register could put you or someone in your household at risk. You’ll need to explain the risk and provide either a relevant court document or an attestation from an authorised person.
If you’re registered anonymously, your name and address will not appear on the register or on registration forms sent to your address. Electoral Services will contact you separately, and you can still vote. Anonymous registration lasts for one year, so you’ll need to reapply. Keep copies of your court documents or attestation for future applications.
Find out how to register anonymously and download the form, or contact Electoral Services for help.