You can register to vote if you:
- are aged 16 years or over, but you can only vote if you're over 18 years of age
- are a British citizen or Irish citizen
- You can also register if you have permission to enter or stay in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man - or you do not need permission - and you’re a:
- Commonwealth citizen
- citizen of Denmark, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal or Spain
- citizen of another EU country, if you have had permission to enter or stay - or not needed permission - since 31 December 2020, and this has continued without a break
You only have to register once to be able to vote. If you're unsure if you're already on the Electoral Register, please contact us.
To register to vote, you can do this by visiting the GOV.UK website to:
When registering to vote you'll be asked for your National Insurance number. You can still register if you do not have a National Insurance number and the form will ask you to explain why you cannot provide one. We'll then contact you to verify your identity.
Visit the GOV.UK website for information to find a lost National Insurance number.
Updating your details
If you move house, you will not automatically be registered at your new house or flat. You should register to vote again by visiting the GOV.UK website
If you change your name due to getting married or through a deed poll you should contact the Council’s Elections Team requesting a change of name form, or re-register by visiting GOV.UK website.
Vote registration for students and multi home owners
If you split your time between two addresses, you can register to vote at both addresses as long as they're not both in the same local authority area.
This could be if you're a student and have both home and term time addresses, or if you own and reside in more than one property.
Vote registration for the Armed Forces
Members of the Armed Forces, their spouses and civil partners can register to vote as either a service voter or ordinary elector.
Service voters
If you're in the Armed Forces and are based overseas or expect to be posted abroad within the next year, you should register to vote as a service voter.
This will allow you to be registered at a fixed address in the UK even if you move abroad. A service voter registration lasts for five years, so once you are registered to vote you shouldn't have to worry about it whilst you're posted overseas.
When registering to vote as a service elector, please use the usual GOV.UK online vote registration option. You'll be able to provide your service number during the online process.
If your Armed Forces role means you are based in the UK, we recommend registering to vote as an ordinary elector.
Vote registration for overseas citizens
If you are a British or eligible Irish citizen living abroad who has previously lived in the UK or been registered to vote in the UK, you can register to vote in UK Parliamentary elections.
If you're in the UK on Election Day, you can vote at a polling station. If you’re abroad, you can still vote using the following options:
- You can apply to vote by post, remember that ballot papers are only sent out 7 to 10 days before the election. You'll need to consider whether you'll have time to return your ballot papers by close of poll.
- You can apply to vote by proxy, where someone else votes on your behalf.
Please note: You will not automatically get a postal vote if you’re voting from overseas, you must apply for it separately.
- To apply for a postal vote please visit apply online for a postal vote.
- To apply for a proxy vote please visit apply online for a proxy vote.
Anonymous registration
You may be able to register anonymously if you're concerned about your name and address appearing on the electoral register because you think that it could affect your safety, or the safety of someone in the same household as you.
If you're registered anonymously, you'll still be able to vote but your name and address will not appear on the electoral register and will not be included on any registration forms sent to your address. You'll be assigned a code on the electoral register instead.
To support your application, you'll need to:
- explain why your safety, or the safety of someone in the same household as you, would be at risk if your name and address appeared on the electoral register
- provide a court document or an attestation from an authorised person to support your application
You can find the application form to register anonymously on GOV.UK.
If you require a paper copy of this form, please email electionservices@bury.gov.uk.
What registering to vote means
You must be on the Electoral Register to vote in a local or UK held election or referenda. Being on the Electoral Register means you can vote, but it's also used by credit agencies. This means that if you're not on the Electoral Register, you might find it difficult to get a:
- loan
- mortgage
- finance agreement
- mobile phone contract.
By law, you must register to vote or you could be fined up to £80.
Vote registration processing
When you've registered to vote, your details will be checked and verified before you are added to the Electoral Register.
You'll receive a letter from us confirming your registration or to request more information.
Electoral and Open registers
By law, the Electoral Register is updated on the first working day of every month except October and November.
The Open Register is a version of the Electoral Register that's available for anyone to buy a copy.
When registering to vote, you will be asked if you want your details excluded from the Open Register. Opting out doesn't affect your right to vote or your credit status. You can opt out of the Open Register online.