Election 2024: Registering to vote

To vote in the UK general election, you must register to vote. It’s easy to register and takes about 5 minutes on the Government’s website.

If you’ve moved house recently, you’ll need to register to vote again – it doesn’t automatically transfer when you move home, nor when you register for council tax.

Eligibility

Anyone who is registered to vote, aged 18 or over on the day of the election, and is a British, Irish or qualifying Commonwealth citizen is eligible to vote in a UK general election. Full details on eligibility are available on the Government’s website.

Information required

You’ll need to give some basic information (e.g. name, date of birth, address) and provide your National Insurance number.

If you don’t have your NI number, you will need to explain why and provide your passport or a utility bill to verify your identity, which may delay your application.

Deadline

The deadline to register to vote is 11:59pm on Tuesday 18 June 2024 . There’s no need to wait to register – ensure your voice is heard by registering now.

Photo ID requirements

The Government has introduced a requirement for voters to show photo ID when voting in person for most elections in the UK, including general elections. This will be the first general election to take place under the new rules.

Accepted forms of photo ID include a UK passport, a UK photocard driving licence, a Blue Badge, an older person’s buss pass and a disabled person’s bus pass. The full list is available on the Government’s website.

Don’t get caught out by this change and lose your chance to vote – make sure you have an accepted form of photo ID.

If you don’t have an accepted form of photo ID, you can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate or register for a postal vote.

Get a postal vote

Voting by post is the best way to ensure your voice is heard.

It means that you’re still able to vote if you’re unexpectedly unable to vote in person on the day the election is held – for example if you’re on holiday, unwell, or lose your ID.

Instead of having to vote on a specific day, you’ll be sent your ballot paper in the post and have a period of time to fill it out and return it in a pre-paid, addressed envelope.

Further details on postal voting are available on the Government’s website, where you can also register for a postal vote.

The deadline to register for a postal vote is 5pm on 15 June in Northern Ireland.

The deadline for applications in England, Wales and Scotland is 5pm on 19 June. You must also be registered to vote by 11:59pm on 18 June.

There’s no need to wait to register – the best way to ensure your voice is heard is to register for a postal vote now.

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Vote ’24: Prospect’s manifesto to make work better

Working with our members, we have drawn together an agenda of asks for the next government ahead of the general election.

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