Who can vote?
You can register to vote if:
- you are 16 or over (but you cannot vote until your 18th birthday)
- you are a British or Commonwealth citizen
- you are a citizen of the Irish Republic or another European Union (EU) country.
You can also vote if you:
- are a lodger or person staying at an address and have no other home
- normally live at the address but are away temporarily
- are in hospital, a student, or on holiday or working away for less than 6 months.
You are eligible to vote in all elections in the UK if:
- you are a British Citizen
- a Commonwealth citizen
- a citizen of the Irish Republic.
Anyone who is not a British, Commonwealth, Irish or EU citizen is not entitled to vote in any election in this country. Having leave to stay does not give anyone the right to vote, unless they qualify on grounds of nationality.
EU citizens living in the UK before the end of the EU Withdrawal Agreement Implementation Period (up until 1 January 2021) will keep their right to vote and stand in elections. EU citizens who arrived after 1 January 2021 will retain their rights only if an agreement has been negotiated with their home country, or if they hold Irish, Cypriot, or Maltese citizenship.
Can British citizens living abroad vote?
British citizens living abroad can register to vote in UK Parliamentary elections but cannot vote in local elections or elections to devolved bodies such as the Scottish Parliament, National Assembly for Wales or Greater London Authority.
British citizens living abroad must renew their overseas registration every 3 years.
Overseas voters can opt to vote by post or proxy at other elections.
Postal votes are only sent out about a week before election day, so you will need to consider whether this gives you enough time to complete and return your form in time. It may be better to appoint a proxy to vote on your behalf.
Email electoralservices@hillingdon.gov.uk for more information.