FAQs
Below are a series of Frequently Asked Questions about elections and voting. These questions have been reviewed by the Electoral Commission. Select the country that applies to you below.
Voter Registration
There are currently no scheduled elections in Northern Ireland. However, you can register to vote at any time here.
You can register once you turn 16 but you will not be able to vote until you are 18.
You can register once you turn 14 but you will not be able to vote until you are 16.
You can register to vote when you are 16, provided you will be 17 by November 30th that year, but you will not be able to vote until you are 18.
No, you donât need to provide a photo ID when you are registering to vote.
However, you will need a photo ID to vote at the polling station, so it is a good time to check if you have a valid ID.
No, you donât need to provide a photo ID when you are registering to vote.
However, you will need a photo ID to vote at the polling station, if it is for UK parliamentary elections, including general elections, by-elections, and recall petitions
So it is a good time to check if you have a valid ID.
Students can vote using their college/ address or their home address. It is legal to be registered in two areas, but a criminal offence to vote in both in the same election. So, while you can only vote in one location for, say, a UK Parliamentary election, you can vote in two separate local elections even if they take place on the same day. If students are already registered at their home address, they could use a postal vote or proxy vote if they are not there on election day.
It is legal to be registered at more than one address and you can vote at elections at both addresses as long as the elections are separate elections. However, it is a criminal offence to vote at more than one location in the same election.
So, if you are registered in two different constituencies whose local elections fall on the same day, you can vote in both (including by post or by proxy). But, you would not be able to vote in both constituencies in a UK general election or a devoled national election. (Similarly, if you were registered at two addresses within the same local election constituency, you could not vote at two different polling stations within the constituency in a local election.)
You can contact details for your local Electoral Registration Office here.
If you do not have a , you can register by completing an âelectoral registration form for someone with no fixed or â. The form, along with further details on registering to vote if you donât have a , can be found here.
The deadline to register to vote is 11.59pm on the 20th April 2026. You can register to vote here.
You can register to vote via the gov.uk website here, it takes about 5 minutes.
You need to include some basic information, such as your name, address and your National Insurance number.
If you are not sure if you are registered to vote, then register again. There is no issue with registering twice and this ensures that the electoral office has the most up-to-date information about you.
If you want to check if you are registered somewhere you can contact your Electoral Registration Office here.
You need to register yourself, but if you need help the Electoral Commission has produced an âeasy-readâ version of the registration form in English and Welsh. People with a disability can get help completing an application, but the person who wants to register to vote has to sign the form.
A step-by-step, easy read guide to registering to vote for people with a learning disability can be found here.
You can still complete the registration form, but your elections team will then need to verify your identity in a different way, and may contact you separately to do this. If you find your National Insurance number later on, just complete the form again.
UK citizens are sent a letter with their National Insurance number when they turn 16. In the past this also included a National Insurance card.
If you have a job, your National Insurance number should be on your payslip. You might also want to search in your emails or messages for 'NI number' or 'National Insurance number' to see if you have a record of it.
If you are concerned about your name and address appearing on the electoral register you need to fill in a form and explain why your safety - or that of someone in your household - would be at risk. Information about registering to vote ly can be found here.
No. When you register to vote you will get an option to opt in or out of the 'open register'. The open register is part of the electoral register (the names and addresses of people registered) but is not used for elections.
The open register can be bought by organisations and companies.
The electoral reister (sometimes called the âelectoral rollâ) is a list of the names and addresses of everyone whoâs reistered to vote. Your details on the electoral reister are not available for purchase by anyone. But, they are used for a number of leally specified purposes such as:
- Detectin crime (e.. fraud)
- Callin people for jury service
- Checkin credit applications
reYou can et on the electoral reister by reisterin to vote. You can also reister to vote anonymously via the Electoral Office, where your details wonât be shared.
If you do not have a, you can register by completing an âelectoral registration form for someone with no fixed or â. The form, along with further details on registering to vote if you donât have a , can be found here.
How to Vote and Voter ID
You need to be 18 to vote in UK General Elections and in all other elections in England.
You need to be 18 to vote in UK General Elections and in all other elections in Northern Ireland.
In Wales you can vote in local elections and in elections for the Senedd (Welsh Parliament) at 16. But, you need to be 18 to vote in UK General Elections.
In Scotland you can vote in local elections and in elections for Holyrood (Welsh Parliament) at 16. But, you need to be 18 to vote in UK General Elections.
If you live in the UK and are a British, Irish or Commonwealth citizen you can vote in all UK elections.
If you are an EU citizen, you can vote in some local elections. The EU citizens are split into 2 categories:
- a qualifying EU citizen, or
- an EU citizen with retained rights
For more information on what this means for you and your local elections click here.
You can check which elections you can vote in using this tool: canivote.org.uk.
If you live in the UK and you are a British, Irish, or Commonwealth citizen, you can vote in all UK elections.
In Northern Ireland, qualifying foreign citizens can vote in Northern Ireland Assembly and local government elections.
You can check which elections you can vote in using this tool: canivote.org.uk
In Northern Ireland, voters have been required to show ID when voting since 1985, and photo ID since 2003. The new requirement does not change this.
The only acceptable forms of ID in Northern Ireland are:
- A UK, Irish or EU passport.
- A UK, Irish or EEA driving licence.
- Translink SmartPass' for 60+, Senior, Blind Person's, War Disabled and Half-Fare
- An Electoral Identity Card
- A biometric immigration document
The ID can be expired, but staff at the polling station must be satisfied that you are the person in the photograph on the ID.
You can learn more here.
If you live in the UK and you are a British, Irish, or Commonwealth citizen, you can vote in all UK elections.
In Wales, qualifying foreign citizens can vote in Senedd and local government elections.
You can check which elections you can vote in using this tool: canivote.org.uk
If thereâs enough time before the election is due to take place, you can apply for one of the accepted forms of photo ID.
A list can be found here.
You could also apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate from your local council. The Certificate can then be used instead of a photo ID when voting.
You can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate here.
You do not need to show a photo ID to vote in Senedd elections or local elections in Wales.
But, you need to provide a valid photo ID to vote in UK general elections.
The accepted forms of ID include:
- A provisional driving licence.
- A passport.
- A PASS proof of age card.
- Biometric immigration document.
- National Identity card issued by EEA state.
Your ID can be expired, as long as the photo still looks like you.
To see the full list of valid IDs please click here.
You do not need to show a photo ID to vote in Scottish Parliament elections or local elections in Scotland.
But, you need to provide a valid photo ID to vote in UK general elections.
The accepted forms of ID include:
- A provisional driving licence.
- A passport.
- A PASS proof of age card.
- Biometric immigration document.
- National Identity card issued by EEA state.
Your ID can be expired, as long as the photo still looks like you.
To see the full list of valid IDs please click here.
To vote at the polling station in England in any and all elections, you need to provide a valid photo ID. This includes:
- A provisional driving licence.
- A passport.
- A PASS proof of age card.
- Biometric immigration document.
- National Identity card issued by EEA state.
Your ID can be expired, as long as the photo still looks like you.
To see the full list of valid IDs please click here.
A postal vote is when you vote by sending your vote in the post rather than going to the polling station. You may want to apply for a postal vote if you think you wonât be able to vote in person. You donât need a reason to apply to vote by post in England.
You need to apply to vote by post with your local elections team no later than 5pm, 11 working days before polling day â but the sooner the better. You donât need to show a photo ID to apply to vote by post.
You can apply for a postal vote online or by completing a written form.
Nothing. If you donât vote your preferences will not affect the outcome of the election.
While voting is not compulsory in the UK, it is one of the best ways for you to influence who gets to run the country, so itâs important to vote if you can.
A postal vote is when you vote by sending your vote in the post rather than going to the polling station. You may want to apply for a postal vote if you think you wonât be able to vote in person. You donât need a reason to apply to vote by post in Wales.
You need to apply to vote by post with your local elections team no later than 5pm, 11 working days before polling day â but the sooner the better. You donât need to show a photo ID to apply to vote by post.
For UK general elections, you can apply for a postal vote online or via a written form.
For devolved Welsh elections and for local council elections, you can only apply for a postal vote by completing a written form.
A postal vote is when you vote by sending your vote in the post rather than going to the polling station. You may want to apply for a postal vote if you think you wonât be able to vote in person. You donât need a reason to apply to vote by post in Scotland.
You need to apply to vote by post with your local elections team no later than 5pm, 11 working days before polling day â but the sooner the better. You donât need to show a photo ID to apply to vote by post.
For UK general elections, you can apply for a postal vote online or via a written form.
For devolved Scottish elections and for local council elections, you can only apply for a postal vote by completing a written form.
If you know that you wonât be able to get to the polling station on polling day, you can ask someone you trust to cast your vote on your behalf. This is called a proxy vote and the person casting your vote is often referred to as your proxy. The person voting on your behalf can either go to your polling station to cast your vote, or can apply to vote on your behalf by post.
You can apply to vote by proxy either online or by completing a written form.
If you know that you wonât be able to get to the polling station on polling day, you can ask someone you trust to cast your vote on your behalf. This is called a proxy vote and the person casting your vote is often referred to as your proxy. The person voting on your behalf can either go to your polling station to cast your vote, or can apply to vote on your behalf by post.
You can apply to vote by proxy by completing a written form. In Northern Ireland, you can also apply for a long-term or permanent proxy vote if you have a disability, are ill, or if you're away from home for education or work purposes.
If you know that you wonât be able to get to the polling station on polling day, you can ask someone you trust to cast your vote on your behalf. This is called a proxy vote and the person casting your vote is often referred to as your proxy. The person voting on your behalf can either go to your polling station to cast your vote, or can apply to vote on your behalf by post.
For UK general elections, you can apply to vote by proxy either online or by completing a written form. For devolved Scottish government elections or for local council elections, you can only apply via the written form.
If you know that you wonât be able to get to the polling station on polling day, you can ask someone you trust to cast your vote on your behalf. This is called a proxy vote and the person casting your vote is often referred to as your proxy. The person voting on your behalf can either go to your polling station to cast your vote, or can apply to vote on your behalf by post.
For UK general elections, you can apply to vote by proxy either online or by completing a written form. For devolved Welsh government elections or for local council elections, you can only apply via the written form.
If you live abroad, you can register to vote in UK Parliamentary elections if you are both:
A British citizen. This includes eligible Irish citizens (someone who was born in Northern Ireland, who is an Irish citizen and also qualifies as a British citizen) and citizens of Crown Dependencies
And, have previously been registered to vote in the UK or have lived in the UK.
If you live in the UK and you are a British, Irish, or Commonwealth citizen, you can vote in all UK elections.
In Scotland, qualifying foreign citizens can vote in Scottish Parliament and local government elections.
You can check which elections you can vote in using this tool: canivote.org.uk
Candidates, Manifestos and Political Parties
Enter your postcode in the box below to see which candidates you can vote for in the upcoming election.
A hustings is an event where some or all of the candidates in a constituency (your local area) answer questions from the public about what they would like to do if they are elected.
You can find your local Hustings events here.
A manifesto is a set of pledges that a political party makes when standing for an election. Although these pledges are not legally binding, they give voters an idea of what the party plans to do if they win power.
Understanding voting and the Political system
There are currently no scheduled elections in Northern Ireland.
This year, Senedd elections are taking place in Wales.
In this election, voters are electing Members of the Senedd (MSs). These MSs represent the people of Wales and are responsible for making decisions on matters that are devolved to Wales.
Check to see if your area has elections by filling in your postcode here.
This year, parliamentary elections are taking place in Scotland.
In this election, voters are electing Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs). These MSPs represent the people of Scotland and are responsible for making decisions on matters that are devolved to Scotland.
Check to see if your area has elections by filling in your postcode here.
This year, local and regional elections are taking place in different parts of England
In these elections, voters will be electing members to county councils and unitary authorities and electing mayors to combined authorities and local authority
Check to see if your area has elections by filling in your postcode here.
In England, a county council is a local government body responsible for services like education, transport, social care, and public infrastructure across a specific county. It manages budgets, policies, and community initiatives to support residents and promote regional development.
English district and borough councils are local authorities managing smaller areas within counties. They handle services like housing, waste collection, local planning, and leisure facilities. The vast majority of city councils hold similar responsibilities and govern urban areas, while borough and district councils oversee more diverse or suburban regions, focusing on community-specific needs.
Town and parish councils are the most local forms of government. They have fewer powers than district, borough and (most) city councils. They are responsible for some community facilitaties (allotments, village halls, play areas, etc.), some public amenities (like street lighting or bus shelters), as well as some aspects of local planning regulations, transport, health, and community support. There are a few councils at this level of government which are still called 'city councils' (e.g. Wells City Council).
The key difference between a county council and a district/borough/city council in England lies in their responsibilities and geographic scope:
- County Councils:
- Operate at a higher tier of local government in two-tier areas.
- Cover large geographic areas (entire counties).
- Manage strategic services like education, transport, highways, social care, and libraries.
- District/Borough/City Councils:
- Operate at a lower tier within counties.
- Cover smaller, localised areas (districts, boroughs, or cities).
- Handle services like housing, local planning, waste collection, and leisure facilities.
The key difference between combined authority mayors and single authority mayors in England lies in their scope and responsibilities:
- Combined Authority Mayors:
- Govern multiple local councils within a combined authority.
- Focus on regional strategies like transport, housing, and economic development.
- Have devolved powers negotiated with the central government.
- Single Authority Mayors:
- Govern one specific local council (e.g., city or borough).
- Focus on local services like housing, waste, and planning within that area.
- Typically oversee a smaller area and have fewer powers compared to combined authority mayors.
For the purposes of local government, Scotland is divided into 32 local authorities (sometimes called councils) which provide local public services, including education, social care, waste management, libraries and planning. They operate independently of both the UK and Scottish governments and their members are elected through separate local elections.
In Scotland, these councils are unitary authority, meaning that they only have one tier of local government and there are no separate district councils.
In some areas of Scotland, there are smaller, more local community councils. These are not full local authorities and their role is mostly to advise the bigger local authorities on the most local issues, but sometimes they do run small local events or manage local amenities like parks or notice boards.
When someone talks about the 'local authority' or 'councils' in Scotland, they'll almost always be referring to one of the bigger 32 local authorities.
You can find out who your local authority is here: https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council
For the purposes of local government, Wales is divided into 22 principal areas, each of which has a principal council, whose job it is to provide local public services, including education, social care, waste management, libraries and planning. Principal councils operate independently of both the UK and Welsh governments and their members are elected through separate local elections.
In Wales, these councils are unitary authority, meaning that they only have one tier of local government and there are no separate district councils.
But, where you live, there might be a community council or town council. These are most local level of government in Wales and they cover smaller areas than the principal councils. They have much more limited powers and normally manage things like community centres, parks, footpaths, local events, or small grants for community groups.
You might be used to hearing the term 'local authority'. In Wales, this isn't precisely defined and, legally, it can apply to both principal councils or community councils. But, normally, when people talk about the 'local authority,' they mean the principal councils, not community councils.
You can find out which principal council you live in here: https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council
For the purposes of local government, Northern Ireland is divded into 11 local government districts (LGDs) - which used to be called district council areas (DCAs). Each of these LGDs has a council who act as the local authority. Sometimes these councils are still called 'district councils' but legally they're called 'local authorities'. Their job it is to provide local public services, including waste management, libraries and planning. They operate independently of both the UK and Northern Irish governments and their members are elected through separate local elections.
Local authorities in Northern Ireland have more limited powers than local authorities in other parts of the UK and they do not manage housing, education, or social services. These are handled by regional government departments, which are part of the Northern Irish government in Holyrood.
You can find out who your local authority is here: https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council
Power has been shared from the UK Parliament in Westminster to the Welsh Parliament, called the Senedd. This process is called devolution.
For the UK General Elections, voters across the UK will choose who they want to represent them as a Member of Parliament (MP) and who will run the UK government.
For the Senedd, people in Wales vote for who they want to represent them as a Member of the Senedd (MS), who will make decisions on devolved topics including transport, education, and health.
A unitary authority is a single-tier local government in the UK responsible for all local services, combining the roles of county and district councils. It manages services like education, transport, housing, planning, and waste across its area, streamlining governance by eliminating a two-tier structure.
Some elections are being postponed due to ongoing local government reorganisation and devolution plans. Several councils have requested election delays to facilitate these changes.
Your local area may be one looking to merge councils and/or simplify structures - with extra time requested to implement proposals, improve service delivery, and address financial challenges within reorganised authorities.
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