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:
- update your name, address or other details on the electoral register
- change your voting preferences (for example to vote by post)
- change whether you're on the open register
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.
Living Abroad
If you're a British Citizen and you intend to move abroad to live or work, you may still be able to register to vote at Parliamentary Elections.
Your right to vote in the UK can last up to 15 years (after you were last registered in the UK). At the time of an election, you can apply to vote by post or proxy.
In order to vote you must apply for a postal or proxy vote. 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 send it by post for you to complete and return by post in the pre-paid envelope provided.
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 disability
People with a learning disability 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.