How to register to vote online in the UK

With the snap general election fast approaching, it’s time to make sure you have your say. We can’t make your opinion known on the internet aside from social networks, but you can register to vote online and here’s how to do it.

Before we jump straight into the process of registering online, it’s worth checking if you’re eligible in the first place. We don’t want you to waste your time.

Can I vote in the general election 2017?

Age

For starters you need to be old enough to register which means being 17 in England, Northern Ireland and Wales. However, you can’t place a vote until you are 18.

In Scotland you can register to vote if you are 15. You can vote in local and Scottish Parliament elections when you are 16 and elections for UK and European Parliaments when you are 18.

Nationality

To register and vote, you need to be one of the following:

• a British citizen • a qualifying Commonwealth citizen resident in the UK • an EU citizen resident in the UK

When do I need to register by to vote in the general election?

The deadline to register is 22 May in order to vote in the general election on 8 June.

How do I register to vote online?

If you match the above requirements you can register to vote online via the Gov website. Make sure you have things like your National Insurance Number and Passport number handy then click here to register to vote online.

The online form doesn’t take long to fill out and you can also use the service to update your name, address, and other details like your voting preferences like postal voting.

How do I check if I’m registered to vote?

If you’re not sure whether you’re registered or not then you’ll need to contact your local Electoral Registration Officer. Visit Your Vote Matters and enter your postcode to get the contact details you’ll need.