General elections (elections to the UK Parliament) usually take place every 5 years. To vote in a general election you must: be registered to vote be 18 or over on the day of the election (‘polling day’) be a British, Irish or qualifying Commonwealth citizen be resident at an address in the UK or living abroad and registered as an overseas voter not be legally excluded from voting There are 650 Members of Parliament ( MPs ) in the UK Parliament. MPs are elected using the First Past the Post system. You vote once for a candidate in your constituency and the candidate with the most votes becomes your MP . You can find your local MP . Read more about general elections on the Electoral Commission website .

Local government elections take place at least every 4 years. Not all local government elections take place at the same time. Your local government will do one of the following: elect all the local councillors every 4 years elect half the local councillors every 2 years elect one third of the local councillors every year for 3 years and hold no elections in the 4th year Who can vote can in a local government election You must: be registered to vote be 18 or over on the day of the election (‘polling day’) (16 or over in Scotland and Wales) be registered at an address in the area you want to vote in not be legally excluded from voting If you live in England or Northern Ireland You can vote if you’re a British citizen or an Irish citizen. You can also vote 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 If you live in Scotland You can vote if you’re a British citizen or an Irish citizen. You can also vote if you’re a citizen of another country and have permission to enter or stay in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man, or you do not need permission. If you live in Wales You can vote if you’re a British citizen, Irish citizen or a citizen of an EU country. You can also vote if you’re a citizen of another country and have permission to enter or stay in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man, or you do not need permission. How candidates are elected Local government councillors in England and Wales are elected using the First Past the Post system. The ballot paper will tell you the number of candidates you can vote for. In Scotland and Northern Ireland, councillors are elected using the Single Transferable Vote system. You rank the candidates in order of preference. When you can vote in more than one local election If you live in 2 different local authority areas (for example because you’re a student), you may be able to vote in both areas. You must register to vote in both areas. The local Electoral Registration Offices will check each application and tell you if you can register in both areas. Read more about local government elections on the Electoral Commission website .

There are 129 Members of the Scottish Parliament ( MSPs ). To vote in Scottish Parliament elections you must: be registered to vote at an address in Scotland be 16 or over on the day of the election (‘polling day’) not be legally excluded from voting You can vote if you’re a British citizen or an Irish citizen. You can also vote if you’re a citizen of another country and have permission to enter or stay in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man, or you do not need permission. MSPs are elected using the Additional Member system. You vote once for your constituency MSP and once for an MSP to represent the wider region. Read more about the Scottish Parliament elections on the Electoral Commission website .

Northern Ireland Assembly

There are 90 Members of the Legislative Assembly ( MLAs ) in the Northern Ireland Assembly. To vote in Northern Ireland Assembly elections you must: be registered to vote be 18 or over on the day of the election (‘polling day’) be registered at an address in the area you want to vote in not be legally excluded from voting You can vote if you’re a British or Irish citizen. You can also vote 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 In Northern Ireland, MLAs are elected using the Single Transferable Vote system. You rank the candidates in order of preference. Read more about the Northern Ireland Assembly elections on the Electoral Commission website .

Senedd Cymru (Welsh Parliament)

There are 60 Members of the Senedd ( MSs ). To vote in Senedd elections you must: be registered to vote be 16 or over on the day of the election (‘polling day’) live in Wales not be legally excluded from voting You can vote if you’re a British citizen, Irish citizen or a citizen of an EU country. You can also vote if you’re a citizen of another country and have permission to enter or stay in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man, or you do not need permission. MSs are elected using the Additional Member system. You vote once for your constituency MS and once for an MS to represent the wider region. Read more about the Senedd on the Electoral Commission website .

Local mayors, Mayor of London and London Assembly

Elected local mayors In some areas of England voters elect a mayor. Check if your mayor is elected on your local council website . Mayors are elected using the First Past the Post system. You vote once for a candidate and the candidate with the most votes becomes mayor. To vote for a local mayor, you must be eligible to vote in local elections . Mayor of London and London Assembly The Mayor of London makes decisions on behalf of the people of London. The 25 London Assembly Members make sure the Mayor’s decisions are in the interests of the public. To vote in the London Mayor and London Assembly elections you must: be registered to vote be 18 or over on the day of the election (‘polling day’) be resident at an address in Greater London not be legally excluded from voting You can vote if you’re a British citizen or an Irish citizen. You can also vote 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 How candidates are elected The Mayor of London is elected using the First Past the Post system. You vote once for a candidate and the candidate with the most votes becomes mayor. London Assembly members are elected using the Additional Member system. You vote once for your constituency member and once for a London-wide representative. There are 14 constituency members and 11 London-wide members. Read more about the Mayor of London and London Assembly elections on the Electoral Commission website .

Police and Crime Commissioner

There are 41 Police and Crime Commissioners ( PCCs ) in England and Wales who are elected to make sure the police are run properly. There is no elected PCC for London. To vote in a PCC election you must: be registered to vote be 18 or over on the day of the election (‘polling day’) be resident at an address in England or Wales (excluding London) not be legally excluded from voting You can vote if you’re a British or Irish citizen. You can also vote 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 PCCs are elected using the First Past the Post system. You vote once for a candidate and the candidate with the most votes becomes PCC . Read more about Police and Crime Commissioner elections on the Electoral Commission website .

A referendum is a vote on a single issue. You usually make one choice between 2 options. Each referendum has different rules on who can vote in it. Referendums can be: national, where people across the whole of the UK can vote regional, where only people in a certain part of the UK can vote - for example, Wales or North East England local, held by local councils for people in their area In a referendum, votes are usually counted for the whole of an area, not by constituency. Local referendums A local referendum can be held by a local council to make a decision on an issue affecting their area. For example, whether the local council should increase council tax. Contact your local council to check the rules on who can vote in a local referendum they’re holding.

Types of election, referendums, and who can vote

Overview

There are different types of UK elections. The most common ones are:

General elections and other UK Parliamentary elections
Local government
Scottish Parliament
Northern Ireland Assembly
Senedd Cymru (Welsh Parliament)
Local mayors, Mayor of London and the London Assembly
Police and Crime Commissioner

A vote on a single issue is called a referendum. Read more about referendums.

Different elections and referendums in the UK have different rules about who can vote. This means that not everyone can vote in every situation.

Eligibility

Whether you can vote in an election or referendum will depend on:

your age
your nationality
where you live
whether you’ve registered to vote

View a printable version of the whole guide

Step 1 Check if you can vote
1. You are currently viewing: Check which elections you can vote in
Step 2 Register to vote
You’ll need to be registered to vote to take part in elections and referendums. You’ll need to register again if you change your name, address or nationality.
1. Register to vote - apply online
1. Register to vote - apply by post
Step 3 Decide if you want to vote in person, by post, or by proxy
1. Find out the different ways you can vote
Step 4 Get ready to vote in person
1. Check what ID you need to vote
If you do not have photo ID that allows you to vote, you can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate.
1. Apply for a Voter Authority Certificate
Contact your Electoral Registration Office to find your polling station or to find out what to do if you have accessibility needs.
1. Contact your Electoral Registration Office
or Apply for a postal vote
In England, Scotland or Wales:
- apply online for a postal vote
- apply by post for a postal vote
1. Apply in Northern Ireland - by post only
1. Find out more about voting by post
or Apply for a proxy vote
In England, Scotland or Wales:
- apply online for a proxy vote
- apply by post for a proxy vote
1. Apply in Northern Ireland - by post only
1. Find out more about voting by proxy - including when you must apply by
or Get ready to vote as a proxy
1. Check what ID you need to vote
Contact the Electoral Registration Office of the person you are a proxy for to find their polling station or to find out what to do if you have accessibility issues.
1. Contact the Electoral Registration Office
Step 5 Vote in person
1. Vote in person
or Vote by post
1. Vote by post
or Vote as a proxy for someone else
1. Vote as a proxy for someone else

Types of election, referendums, and who can vote

Overview

Eligibility

Step 1 Check if you can vote

Step 2 Register to vote

Step 3 Decide if you want to vote in person, by post, or by proxy

Step 4 Get ready to vote in person

or Apply for a postal vote

or Apply for a proxy vote

or Get ready to vote as a proxy

Step 5 Vote in person

or Vote by post

or Vote as a proxy for someone else

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Types of election, referendums, and who can vote

Overview

Eligibility

Part of Vote in UK elections

Step 1: Check if you can vote

Step 2: Register to vote

Step 3: Decide if you want to vote in person, by post, or by proxy

Step 4: Get ready to vote in person

or Apply for a postal vote

or Apply for a proxy vote

or Get ready to vote as a proxy

Step 5: Vote in person

or Vote by post

or Vote as a proxy for someone else

Is this page useful?

Help us improve GOV.UK

Help us improve GOV.UK

Step 1 Check if you can vote

Step 2 Register to vote

Step 3 Decide if you want to vote in person, by post, or by proxy

Step 4 Get ready to vote in person

Step 5 Vote in person