Everything You Need to Know About Registering For the General Election

With the 2019 General Election quickly approaching, there’s only a few days left to register to vote. Here’s everything you need to know.

What is the election for?

Through general elections, UK citizens and residents elect upcoming governments by choosing members of the House of Commons. While governments should supposedly run for five years, the 2019 General Election will be the third since 2015.

Who can register?

As specified by the UK government, you can only vote if you are 18 or over. However, it’s worth noting that teenagers aged 16 or over (14 or over in Scotland) can still register to vote if they so wish.

You can register if you are a UK citizen or an Irish, EU or Commonwealth citizen with a permanent address in the UK. If you are a British student, you can register to vote at both your university and home address (but can only vote once). If you are an Irish, EU or Commonwealth student, you can register to vote at your UK term address.

When is the vote, and when should I register by?

The election will take place on December 12 2019, with registered voters allowed to cast their choice from 7am to 10pm. The deadline to register yourself as an in-person voter is 11:59pm on November 26. If you want to vote by post, you should register before 5pm on November 21 if you live in Northern Ireland or 5pm on November 26 if you live in England, Scotland or Wales.

How do I register?

The quickest way to register is online on the government website following this link. You can also register using a paper form, which can be found here under ‘Other ways to apply’ – just select the country you currently live in.

What key information do I need on hand?

During the registration process, you will have to provide general personal information (such as your date of birth and nationality), your current and previous addresses and your National Insurance Number.

Can I choose how to vote?

The registration service will ask you whether you want to vote in person or by post. Remember though, you can only vote by post if you register before 5pm!