Register to vote online
Who is eligible to register to vote
You can register to vote in the UK if you are :
- resident (usually live) in the UK, and aged 16 or over (but you will not be able to vote until you are 18)
You must also be either:
- a UK or Irish citizen
- a Commonwealth citizen who has leave to remain in the UK or who does not require leave to remain in the UK
- 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
Why should I register to vote?
You need to register to be able to vote. If you aren't registered to vote you won't have the chance to have a say on who represents you.
Some people also register to vote because they want to apply for credit. This is because credit reference agencies use the register to confirm where someone lives when they apply for credit in order to counteract fraud.
What if I don't register?
Not only will you not have a say at future elections and referendums, but if you don't respond to requests for information from the Electoral registration office you could be at risk of being fined.
It is important you register to vote. If your name is missing from the electoral register you don't get a say in how things are run.
Registering to vote if you have a learning disability
Only a third of people with a learning disability vote in the UK - Mencap want to help more people use their right to vote.
The Mencap website gives some useful information including a number of easy read guides.
The Cabinet Office has also published an Easy Read Guide to Registering to Vote
Registering to vote if you're a young person
It is important that young people register to vote so that their voices can be heard.
Anyone aged 16 or over can apply to be added to the electoral register in order to ensure they can vote as soon as they turn 18. You can register online in the normal way at the link at the top of this page.
The Bite the Ballot campaign encourages young people to engage in local and national politics. You can find out more at the Bite the Ballot website.
Returning a postal vote application
The quickest way to apply for a postal vote is online at www.gov.uk/apply-postal-vote
You can return a paper postal vote application to us at :
Electoral Services, North Tyneside Council, Quadrant East, The Silverlink North, Cobalt Business Park, NE27 0BY
Alternatively you can scan and send your form as a PDF to elections@northtyneside.gov.uk
BSL info
Information on elections in BSL