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Register to vote

Overview

You can register to vote if:

  • you're 18 years old (16 and 17 year olds can only register if they'll be 18 within the lifetime of the electoral register)
  • you live at your address for at least six months of the year
  • you're a British, Irish, European Union or Commonwealth citizen

You can also use this service to:

Registration takes about five minutes (you will need your national insurance number or may have to provide further evidence).

To check if you are registered to vote or for more information, email ero@plymouth.gov.uk or call 01752 304866.

Students

If you're a student studying away from home, you can register in your home town as well as Plymouth. For:

  • local elections you can vote in both locations
  • UK parliamentary elections you can only vote in one location

Members of the armed forces

You can vote in the normal way or register for a service vote. You can register for a service vote if you:

  • are a member of the armed forces
  • a spouse or civil partner of a serving member

All service votes are valid for five years.

Crown Servants and British Council employees

If you are:

  • a Crown servant or a British Council employee
  • spouse or civil partner of a Crown servant or British Council employee

You need to register separately if you're likely to be posted abroad.

Overseas Elector (Moving or Living Abroad)

If you're a British Citizen and you intend to move abroad to live or work, you may still be eligible to register to vote at UK Parliamentary Elections. One may register as an overseas elector providing they;

  • were previously registered to vote in the UK, either before they left the UK or as an overseas voter; or
  • previously lived in the UK

Your registration lasts up to 3 years and you will receive a reminder when it's time to renew. If your overseas address changes, please email ero@plymouth.gov.uk

At the time of an election, you can apply to vote by post or proxy.

If the election is less than two weeks away and you haven't made any arrangements, you should vote by proxy.

We cannot send your postal ballot paper by email. We have to sent it by post for you to complete and return by post in the pre-paid envelope provided.

For further information on the recent legislative changes on overseas voting, please see the document below:

No Fixed Address

You can still register to vote even if you do not have a fixed address. This may be because you are:

  • A patient in a mental health hospital
  • Homeless
  • A merchant seaman
  • Part of the gypsy or travelling community
  • Living on a boat or other movable residence
  • A person remanded in custody

You can register for an address you are staying at for an extended length of time. This could be a hospital, hostel, prison facility or similar place.

If you do not have a permanent address, you can register at an address where you spend a large part of your time or have some connection. This could be a previous permanent address, shelter or similar place.

Further information on registering to vote without a fixed address

People with a learning difficulty / dementia

People with a learning difficulty / dementia have the same right to vote as everyone else.

Registering to vote will let you have your say in local elections, general elections and referendums.

There is an easy read step-by-step guide to registering to vote on the Government website.

We want everyone to register and, if they wish, to use their vote. But for some people, registering as an elector can be a difficult process to follow. Here's a quick and easy step-by-step guide.

Anonymous Elector Registration

If you think your name and address being on the electoral register could affect your safety, or the safety of someone in your household, you can apply to register to vote anonymously.

There are three steps to register to vote anonymously. You will need to:

  • download and complete the application form
  • explain why your safety, or the safety of someone in your household, would be at risk if your details were on the electoral register
  • submit evidence to support your registration