Today (11:59pm Tue 18 Jun 2024) = last day to register to vote for the upcoming general election

[JoBrodie]

If you've not already registered to vote in the upcoming election on 4th July then you have only a few hours to get yourself on the electoral register.

https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote - please add yourself by 11.59pm tonight.

Yesterday over 170,000(1) people registered and today another 80,000+(2) had registered by 10am this morning.

It's quicker if you know your National Insurance number (it should be on a payslip or P60) but you can register without it.

Already registered but not 100% certain that you are?
Enter your postcode here which will tell you your local electoral registration office who can tell you
https://www.gov.uk/contact-electoral-registration-office

Voting on the day - PHOTO ID needed
Don't forget that you'll need to bring approved photographic ID to take part in the election. This page lists what types of ID are acceptable https://www.gov.uk/how-to-vote/photo-id-youll-need but if you don't have any of those then you can apply for a 'Voter Authority Certificate'*
https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate - but you'll need to do so by Wednesday 26th June.

Deadlines
• 11.59pm tonight, 18 June - register to vote
• 5pm tomorrow, 19 June - register for a postal vote
• 5pm Wednesday 26th - register for photo ID
• 5pm Wednesday 26th - register for a proxy vote (You can get someone else to vote on your behalf (a proxy) if you cannot go to the polling station in person.) If you are suddenly taken ill on the day of the election you may be able to get an Emergency Proxy Vote up to 5pm on the day https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voting-and-elections/ways-vote/emergency-proxy-vote

Jo
*Note that this isn't used in Northern Ireland, see https://www.eoni.org.uk/Electoral-Identity-Card/Electoral-Identity-Card-FAQs for more info.

(1) https://www.registertovote.service.gov.uk/performance - currently approx 2,500 people are registering every 5 minutes.
(2) https://x.com/jayrayner1/status/1803000593146855470

I’m glad someone has posted a reminder. 😀

This may be a stupid question so apologies if so. I've received a polling card to my address does that mean I'm already on the electoral register and do I need to do anything apart from turn up on the day?

You are on the electoral register if you've received a polling card, yes :)

On the day you will need to bring photo ID with you and obviously you'll need to know where to go to vote (that location / address info is ON the polling card, though you don't usually need to bring the polling card with you.)

Once inside the polling booth area you show your photo ID and confirm your name and address.

There may also be people just outside the voting area (called 'tellers') or other campaigners who might ask to see your polling card but you're not obliged to show it to them https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/resources/resources-young-people/campaigning/types-campaigning/campaigners-polling-station/place.

Jo

Thank you! I thought that was the case but didn't want to miss any deadline if there was something else I needed to do!

You're welcome :) I'm assuming there's nothing else you need to do if you already have a passport or other approved photo ID. But if you're not sure do check the link in my first post in case you need to apply for some (you'd need to do that by 5pm on 26th June).

The sort of photo ID that's accepted depends on which nation you're living in and, to some extent, your age (e.g. older people's bus passes are accepted but younger people's travel passes aren't).

Jo