A General Election has been called for Thursday 4 July to choose the next UK Government.
In order for you to be able to vote, you need to be on the electoral register by the deadline of 11.59pm on Tuesday 18 June. It only takes around 5 minutes to register to vote. It is important to remember to register your new address if you have moved home for the summer or if you are at a new residence.
Am I eligible to vote?
To be able to vote in the 2024 General Election you must:
- be 18 or over on the day of the election.
- be a British, Irish or qualifying Commonwealth citizen.
- be a resident at an address in the UK (or a British citizen living abroad who has been registered to vote in the UK in the last 15 years).
- not be legally excluded from voting.
- be registered to vote.
Students can register at both their home address and term-time address, but you can only vote in one location during the General Election, as it is a criminal offence to do otherwise.
Photographic ID
To vote, you are required by law to bring a form of photographic ID when voting in person. This can include a driving license or a passport. For other accepted forms of photographic ID, please visit the Electoral Commission’s website.
If you do not have an accepted form of photographic ID, you can apply for a free voter ID document known as a Voter Authority Certificate. You can apply here. You must apply by Wednesday 26 June.
Voting in the General Election
There are a few ways in which you can vote in the General Election:
- At the polling station: You can find your local polling station here. They are open from 7am until 10pm on the day of the election (Thursday 4 July). Remember your photographic ID.
- By post: If you know you are unable to get to the polling station on the day of the election, for example if you are on holiday or your schedule doesn’t allow it, you can apply for a postal vote online. The deadline for postal votes is 5pm on Wednesday 19 June.
- By proxy: This is where someone you trust votes on your behalf. You need to submit an application for this and provide a reason as to why you can’t vote in person. You can do this online. The deadline for proxy votes is 5pm on Wednesday 26 June.
Registering to vote allows you have your say on who makes the decisions that affect you. Make sure your voice is heard.