1. Can I vote in the UK Parliamentary general election on Thursday 4 July 2024?
2. How do I register to vote?
3. What is the deadline for applications to register to vote?
4. Can EU citizens vote in the UK Parliamentary general election on Thursday 4 July 2024?
5. What should I do if I’ve moved house?
6. What should I do if I’ve changed my name?
7. What should I do if I’ve changed my nationality?
8. 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? If so, can I vote in both locations?
9. I have a second home on the islands. Can I register to vote on Scilly as well as at my mainland address? If so, can I vote in both locations?
10. I’m concerned about my name and address appearing on the electoral register for safety reasons. What can I do?
11. I’ve not received a poll card (even though others have). What should I do?
1. Can I vote in the UK Parliamentary general election on Thursday 4 July 2024?
To vote at the UK Parliamentary general election, you must be registered to vote and:
• 18 years of age or over on polling day
• be a British, Irish or qualifying Commonwealth citizen
• be resident at an address in the UK (or a UK citizen living abroad who has previously been registered to vote in the UK or has lived in the UK)
• not be legally excluded from voting
You can find out more about who is eligible to vote on the Electoral Commission website.
If you are unsure whether you are registered to vote, or whether you are eligible to register to vote, please contact Electoral Services and we will be happy to advise.
2. How do I register to vote?
You can apply online to register to vote. It only takes 5 minutes.
If you're unable to register online, you can apply by completing a paper application form and posting or emailing it to Electoral Services. You can download the relevant form here.
If you can’t print the form, please contact Electoral Services and we will be happy to send you a copy in the post.
3. What is the deadline for applications to register to vote?
In order to take effect for the UK Parliamentary general election on Thursday 4 July 2024, applications to register to vote must be received before midnight on Tuesday 18 June 2024.
4. Can EU citizens vote in the UK Parliamentary general election on Thursday 4 July 2024?
No. EU citizens (other than those from Cyprus and Malta which are members of the Commonwealth and the Republic of Ireland) cannot vote in UK Parliamentary elections.
An EU citizen can register to vote in local government and police and crime commissioner elections only if they are:
• a citizen of Denmark, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, or Spain who has permission to enter or stay in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man, or who does not need permission; or
• a citizen of one of the other 19 EU countries who on or before 31 December 2020 had permission to enter or stay in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man, or who did not need permission, and this has continued without a break.
5. What should I do if I’ve moved 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.
6. What should I do if I’ve changed my name?
If you’ve changed your name, you can either re-register using your new name or contact Electoral Services 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.
7. What should I do if I’ve changed my nationality?
Please contact Electoral Services if you’ve changed your nationality.
8. 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? If so, can I vote in both locations?
Students are generally entitled to register to vote at both their home address and their term-time address.
If you are registered to vote on Scilly and somewhere else:
• you can vote in both locations for local government elections
• you can vote in both locations for police and crime commissioner elections 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 in a UK Parliamentary general election.
9. I have a second home on the islands. Can I register to vote on Scilly as well as at my mainland address? If so, can I vote in both locations?
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 on Scilly and somewhere else:
• you can vote in both locations for local government elections
• you can vote in both locations for police and crime commissioner elections 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 in a UK Parliamentary general election.
10. 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.
11. I’ve not received a poll card (even though others have). What should I do?
If you haven’t received a poll card, you should check with Electoral Services whether you are registered to vote.
You don’t need a poll card in order to vote (so long as you are registered).