1. Am I eligible to register to vote?
2. How do I register to vote?
3. Which elections can I vote in?
4. I’m a student. Can I register to vote at my home address on Scilly as well as at my term-time address on the mainland?
5. I have a second home on the islands. Can I register to vote on Scilly as well as at my main address?
6. I’m concerned about my name and address appearing on the electoral register for safety reasons. What can I do?
7. How can I check whether I am registered to vote?
8. Why should I register to vote?
9. What should I do if I move house?
10. What should I do if I change my name?
11. What should I do if I change my nationality?
12. Why are there two different versions of the register?
1. Am I eligible to register to vote?
If you live on the Isles of Scilly or anywhere else in England (or you are a member of the armed forces posted abroad)
You must be aged 16 or over to register (although you will not be able to vote until you are 18).
You can register if you’re a British citizen or an Irish citizen.
You can also register if you have permission to enter or stay in the UK (or you do not need permission) and you are:
• a Commonwealth citizen;
• a citizen of Denmark, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal or Spain; or
• a 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 abroad (but you are not a member of the armed forces posted abroad)
You can register as an overseas voter if you are a British citizen who has previously lived in the UK.
Further information about registering to vote, including details of how to register if you don't have a fixed address, may be found on the Electoral Commission website.
2. How do I register to vote?
You can register as an ordinary or overseas voter online. It only takes 5 minutes.
If you're unable to register online, you can apply by post. You can download the relevant form here.
If you can’t print the form, please contact the Elections Office and we will be happy to send one in the post.
If you are a member of the armed forces, you can choose whether to register in the usual way or whether to register as a service voter. Registering as a service voter is particularly useful if you are posted abroad.
3. Which elections can I vote in?
British citizens (apart from overseas voters), Irish citizens and Commonwealth citizens who are registered to vote can vote in all elections.
Citizens of EU countries who are registered to vote can vote in local government and police and crime commissioner elections but not in UK parliamentary elections (apart from citizens of Ireland, Cyprus and Malta who can vote in all elections).
Overseas voters (not including service voters living abroad) can vote in UK parliamentary elections but not in local government or police and crime commissioner elections.
Service voters living abroad can vote in all elections to which they would be entitled to vote if they lived in the UK.
4. I’m a student. Can I register to vote at my home address on Scilly as well as at my term-time address on the mainland?
Yes. Students are generally entitled to register to vote at both their home address and their term-time address.
If you are registered to vote in Scilly and somewhere else:
- you will be able to vote in local government elections in both locations;
- you will be able to vote in police and crime commissioner elections in both locations so long as the other location is not in the Devon and Cornwall police area;
- but you must choose to vote in one location or the other at a UK Parliamentary election.
5. I have a second home on the islands. Can I register to vote on Scilly as well as at my main address?
If you split your time between two homes, you may be able to register to vote at both addresses.
If you submit an application, we will ask for additional information to help us determine whether you meet the residency qualification to register to vote on Scilly. Residency in the context of electoral registration is not defined in law but the length of time you spend on the islands each year will be an important factor.
If you are registered to vote in Scilly and somewhere else:
- you will be able to vote in local government elections in both locations;
- you will be able to vote in police and crime commissioner elections in both locations so long as the other location is not in the Devon and Cornwall police area;
- but you must choose to vote in one location or the other at a UK Parliamentary election.
6. I’m concerned about my name and address appearing on the electoral register for safety reasons. What can I do?
You can submit an application to register to vote anonymously.
7. How can I check whether I am registered to vote?
Before an election, poll cards will be sent to all registered electors who are entitled to vote in that election.
But you can contact the Elections Office at any time to check whether you are registered to vote.
8. Why should I register to vote?
You need to be on the electoral register in order to vote in elections and referendums.
If you are not on the electoral register (which is used by credit reference agencies), you may find it harder to get a finance agreement (e.g. a loan, mortgage or mobile phone contract).
9. What should I do if I move house?
You need to re-register when you move house.
If you have a postal or proxy vote, you will also need to complete a new postal or proxy voting application.
10. What should I do if I change my name?
If you change your name, you can either:
• re-register using your new name; or
• contact the Elections Office so we can send you a change of name form.
If you have a postal or proxy vote, you will also need to complete a new postal or proxy voting application.
11. What should I do if I change my nationality?
Please contact the Elections Office if you change your nationality.
12. Why are there two different versions of the register?
See our webpage on the registers.
Elections Office
Council of the Isles of Scilly
Town Hall
St Mary's
Isles of Scilly
TR21 0LW
T: 01720 424545
E: elections@scilly.gov.uk