Register to vote

Overseas

People who live or work abroad

If you are a British citizen living abroad, you can register as an overseas elector.

This allows you to vote in -

  • parliamentary general elections
  • referendums

You can't vote in local elections.

You need to renew your overseas registration every 12 months. We will contact you with instructions of what to do.

When registering, you need your -

  • National Insurance Number
  • address at which you were last registered in the UK. This is known as your qualifying address
  • passport number

Your name does not appear against your qualifying address on the electoral register. Overseas electors' names are listed at the back of the register under the section 'other electors'. Your overseas address is not shown.

Once registered as an overseas elector, you need to remember to apply for an absent vote. This is if you are likely to be overseas on polling day.

If you want to vote from overseas, you have 2 options -

  • vote by proxy. This is where you appoint a person you trust to vote on your behalf at the polling station linked to your qualifying address. If they do not live near your qualifying address, they can apply for a postal proxy vote once appointed by you
  • vote by post - we can send postal votes overseas. Due to the restrictions on the election timetable, the earliest we can dispatch postal votes is a few weeks before the polling day. Depending on where you live, it may take too long for your postal ballot to be sent back to us before it needs to be counted. If you think this applies to you, we advise you to apply for a proxy vote

Register yourself to vote (opens in new window)

People in the armed forces

If you are in the armed forces, either your spouse or civil partner can register to vote as a service voter or ordinary elector.

If you are based overseas or expect to be posted abroad in the next year, register as a service voter. This allows you to be registered at a fixed address in the UK even if you move around.

A service voter registration also lasts for 5 years. Once you are registered, you should not have to worry whist you are overseas.

If you are based in the UK and unlikely to be posted overseas or move address in the next year, you can register to vote as an ordinary elector.