Register to vote

From 16 January 2024, the 15 year voting limit for British citizens living overseas will be removed. Voters that have previously lived or been registered to vote in the UK now have the right to vote in UK parliament elections. 

Registering

Register to vote on GOV.UK

For an overseas elector, the only difference when you register is that you must include your passport details.

British citizens, which includes eligible Irish citizens and citizens of Crown Dependencies, may register as overseas voters if they are now living abroad, providing they:

• Were previously registered to vote in the UK, either before they left the UK or as an overseas voter
• Were previously resident in the UK

Overseas British citizens must apply to register as a voter using the address where they were last registered to vote in the UK or, if they have never been registered, the last address at which they were resident in the UK. If an applicant has been previously registered at more than one address in the UK, they need to use the most recent. 

Under the new rules, overseas voters need to provide a renewal declaration every three years. The Electoral services department will contact you 6 months before your registration expires. 

You can register to vote on the gov.uk website

Applying to vote, doesn't automatically add you to the electoral register. We have to check your details first, then you'll get a letter either confirming that you're registered, or asking you for more information.

Evidence you'll need to confirm you were previously registered or resident at an address in the UK

• a driving licence granted in the UK (including an expired licence)
• an instrument of a court appointment, such as a grant of probate or letters of administration
• a letter from the Office of the Public Guardian confirming the registration of a lasting power of attorney
• a letter from His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs
• a council tax demand letter or statement
• a rent book issued by a local authority
• a statement of benefits or entitlement to benefits, such as a statement of child benefit, within the meaning of section 141 of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992, or a letter confirming that the applicant is entitled to housing benefit, within the meaning of section 130 of that Act
• a letter from the DWP confirming the applicant’s entitlement to a state pension
• a letter from a school, college, university or other educational institution which confirms the attendance of, or the offer of a place for, the applicant at that institution
• a letter from the Student Loans Company
• an official copy of the land register entry for the relevant address or other proof of title for the relevant address
• a solicitor’s letter confirming the purchase of, or confirmation of the land registry registration of, the relevant address
• a Form P45, Form P60, reference or payslip issued to the applicant by their employer or former employer
• a bank or building society passbook or statement, or a letter from a bank or building society confirming that the applicant has opened an account with that bank or building society
• a credit card statement
• a utility or mobile telephone bill
• a letter from an insurance provider

Once registered, you can apply to vote by post or proxy. If you do not apply to vote by post or proxy and you wish to vote at parliamentary elections, you will need to do this in person at an allocated polling station in the UK.   

If you wish to vote by post or proxy, you will need to complete a separate application form. 

How can you vote from overseas?

• Proxy Voting - You can appoint a proxy to vote on your behalf. Your appointed proxy has to attend the polling station you were last registered to vote at, so make sure that the person you appoint is familiar with where you would have previously voted.  Your appointed proxy need to be eligible to vote in a parliamentary elections (be a qualifying British, Commonwealth or Republic of Ireland citizen) You can apply www.gov.uk/apply-proxy-vote The person you appoint may opt to vote by post - we will send them an application form once you have appointed them.
• Postal vote - If you are registered as an overseas elector you can apply to vote by post where the ballot(s) are sent to your nominated address. You will need to make sure you have time to receive and return your ballot papers by polling day, please bear in mind that it is often not possible to send postal votes out any earlier than 10 days before polling day and the postage will be even later than this if you do not submit your application early enough. You can apply www.gov.uk/apply-postal-vote 

If you have opted to vote by postal vote and it does not arrive in time or gets lost in the post, you cannot then change your method of voting.  By law, all postal votes must be posted out, we are not allowed to email them to electors. You can apply here (https://www.gov.uk/apply-postal-vote)

We strongly advise that you appoint a proxy to vote on your behalf instead of a postal vote.  This is because we cannot guarantee we will be able to get you your ballot paper in time for you to vote and return it to us.  

Are overseas voters allowed to donate money to UK political parties?

Yes, under electoral law, those on an electoral register are also permitted to donate to political parties and campaigners campaigning in UK elections. 

If you are a UK citizen living abroad you can register to vote for UK Parliamentary General Elections if you have been registered to vote in the UK in the last 15 years.  As part of your application you will be asked the address where you were last registered to vote and it will be in that area where your vote will be counted.

ou to the electoral register. We have to check your details first, then you'll get a letter either confirming that you're registered, or asking you for more information.

Once registered, you can apply to vote by post or proxy. If you do not apply to vote by post or proxy and you wish to vote at parliamentary elections, you will need to do this in person at an allocated polling station in the UK.   

If you wish to vote by post or proxy, you will need to complete a separate application form. 

We strongly advise that you appoint a proxy to vote on your behalf instead of a postal vote.  This is because we cannot guarantee we will be able to get you your ballot paper in time for you to vote and return it to us.  

Are overseas voters allowed to donate money to UK political parties?

Yes, under electoral law, those on an electoral register are also permitted to donate to political parties and campaigners campaigning in UK elections. 

If you are a UK citizen living abroad you can register to vote for UK Parliamentary General Elections if you have been registered to vote in the UK in the last 15 years.  As part of your application you will be asked the address where you were last registered to vote and it will be in that area where your vote will be counted.