Who can register to vote?

You can register if you're aged 16 or over and are a British, Irish, qualifying EU or qualifying Commonwealth citizen living in the UK. You can vote once you're 18 — 16 and 17-year-olds register as 'attainers' so they're ready. The elections you can actually vote in depend on your nationality and where you live, but registering is the first step for all of them.

What if I don't have photo ID?

You can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate — a document specifically for voting. Apply through GOV.UK or your local council with a photo, your full name, date of birth, the address you're registered to vote at, and your National Insurance number. There's a deadline before each election (typically 5pm about six working days beforehand), so apply in good time. You must be registered to vote first.

Does registering to vote affect my credit score?

Being on the electoral register actually helps. Lenders use the register to confirm your name and address, so being registered can make it easier to be approved for credit, a mortgage, a phone contract or a bank account — it's one of the simplest, free things you can do to strengthen your credit file. It has no negative effect. If you've just moved, registering at your new address is a quick win for both voting and your credit.

Register to vote & the photo-ID rule

Q: How do I register to vote?

Register online at gov.uk/register-to-vote — it takes about 5 minutes and you'll usually need your National Insurance number. If you can't register online, you can ask your local council for a paper form. You must register again whenever you move home, because the register is tied to your address. Registering is free. There's a deadline before each election — usually around 12 working days beforehand — so don't leave it to the last minute.

Q: Do I need ID to vote?

Yes, at many UK elections you now need to show photo ID to vote at a polling station — including UK Parliament elections, English local elections, and Police and Crime Commissioner elections in England and Wales. It does not apply to Scottish Parliament, Welsh Senedd, or council elections in Scotland and Wales. Accepted ID includes a passport, driving licence, or older/disabled person's bus pass, and expired ID is fine as long as you're still recognisable from the photo. If you don't have accepted ID, you can get a free Voter Authority Certificate.

How to register

The quickest way is online at gov.uk/register-to-vote. It takes about 5 minutes and you’ll usually need your National Insurance number (if you don’t have it to hand, you can still apply and provide other details). If you can’t go online, ask your local council for a paper form.

Register again every time you moveYour registration is tied to your address, so a house move means registering again at the new one. It’s one of the easiest things to forget after a move — and it’s a quick win for both voting and your credit file. Not sure if you’re on the register? Contact your local electoral registration office to check.

Who can register

You can register if you’re aged 16 or over and are a British, Irish, qualifying EU or qualifying Commonwealth citizen living in the UK.

You can vote from age 18. If you’re 16 or 17 you register as an “attainer”, so you’re ready as soon as you turn 18.
Which elections you can actually vote in depends on your nationality and where in the UK you live — but registering is the first step for all of them.
You can be registered at more than one address in some cases (for example students), but you can only vote once in the same election.

The photo-ID rule — the bit that catches people out

At many UK elections you must now show photo ID to vote at a polling station. It applies to UK Parliament elections, local elections in England, and Police and Crime Commissioner elections (England & Wales). It does not apply to Scottish Parliament, Welsh Senedd, or council elections in Scotland and Wales.

Accepted ID includes:

a UK, EU or Commonwealth passport;
a UK, EU, or Commonwealth driving licence (full or provisional);
an older person’s or disabled person’s bus pass, an Oyster 60+ card, or a Blue Badge;
a Voter Authority Certificate (see below).

Expired ID is fineYou can use an out-of-date passport, driving licence or bus pass — as long as the photo still looks like you. Postal voters don’t need to show ID (it’s only for voting in person).

No accepted ID? Get a free certificate

If you don’t have any accepted photo ID, you can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate — a simple document made just for voting. Apply through GOV.UK or your local council, with:

a recent photo;
your full name and date of birth;
the address you’re registered to vote at;
your National Insurance number (or other ID if you don’t have it).

Mind the deadlineYou must be registered to vote first, and apply for the certificate before the deadline for that election — typically 5pm about six working days before polling day. Don’t leave it late: if you miss it, you can’t vote in person without ID.

Three ways to vote

Method	How it works
In person	At your assigned polling station on polling day — remember your photo ID where it’s required.
By post	Apply for a postal vote and your ballot is sent to you to fill in and return. No photo ID needed. Apply ahead of the deadline (about 11 working days before).
By proxy	Someone you trust votes on your behalf — useful if you’re away or can’t get to the polling station. Apply in advance.

Do this now

Register in about 5 minutes at gov.uk/register-to-vote with your National Insurance number. Then check you have accepted photo ID — and if not, apply for the free Voter Authority Certificate in good time.

Just moved? Registering at your new address is also a quick win for your credit file — see the moving-home checklist for everything else to update.

Related guides

Check your credit report Moving home checklist Your local council & services Renew your passport Driving licence

Source verification Primary sources: GOV.UK (Register to vote; Vote in UK elections) and the Electoral Commission (voter ID; register to vote; the May 2026 elections guidance). Specific URL: gov.uk/register-to-vote. Last verified 2 July 2026 (the ~5-minute online registration with a National Insurance number, registering per address, the 16+/attainer rule and citizenship eligibility, the photo-ID requirement at UK Parliament / English local / PCC elections (not Scotland/Wales devolved elections), the accepted-ID list and expired-ID rule, the free Voter Authority Certificate and its deadline, and postal/proxy voting web-checked against GOV.UK and the Electoral Commission). Confidence: High on the framework — voter ID has applied at these elections since 2023; exact registration, postal-vote and certificate deadlines vary per election, so check the dates for your specific election on GOV.UK or your council. Being on the electoral register is a recognised positive factor for credit files. Scope: UK (voter-ID rules differ for devolved elections). Not advice — for your circumstances, check GOV.UK or your local electoral registration office.

Registering to vote — common questions

How do I register to vote?

Online at gov.uk/register-to-vote in about 5 minutes with your National Insurance number (paper form via your council if you can’t go online). Register again whenever you move, and before the election deadline (usually about 12 working days beforehand).

Who can register?

Anyone 16 or over who is a British, Irish, qualifying EU or qualifying Commonwealth citizen living in the UK. You vote from 18; 16 and 17-year-olds register as attainers so they’re ready.

Do I need photo ID to vote?

Yes at UK Parliament, English local and PCC elections — not at Scottish Parliament, Welsh Senedd or Scottish/Welsh council elections. Passport, driving licence or an older/disabled bus pass all count, and expired ID is fine if you’re still recognisable.

What if I have no ID?

Apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate via GOV.UK or your council with a photo, your details and National Insurance number. You must be registered first, and apply before the deadline (about six working days before polling day).

Does it affect my credit score?

Only positively — lenders use the electoral register to confirm your name and address, so being registered can make credit, mortgages and contracts easier to get. It never counts against you.

Sources: How to register and who can · GOV.UK — Register to vote. Voter ID and the Voter Authority Certificate · Electoral Commission. SortedUK is independent and not affiliated with any UK government body — this is general information. Last reviewed: 2 July 2026.

Register to vote — and don’t get turned away on the day