Who is eligible to vote
You can register to vote if you are 16 years of age and over, resident in the UK and you are:
- A UK citizen
- A qualifying Commonwealth citizen
- A citizen of the Irish Republic
- A citizen of the European Union (EU)
- Not legally excluded from voting.
List of qualifying Commonwealth countries on the electoral commission website.
European Union (EU) citizens
If you are a citizen of an EU country other than the Republic of Ireland, Malta and Cyprus you are not entitled to vote in UK parliamentary elections, but you are eligible to vote in European parliamentary, local council and mayoral, London Assembly and London mayoral elections.
Students
Students living away from home may register to vote at both their term time and home address. A student who has a permanent home address and a term-time address can be lawfully registered at both addresses. If an elector is registered to vote in two different electoral areas, they are eligible to vote in local elections for the two different local councils. However, it is an offence to vote twice in any one election.
Overseas Electors
If you are living outside the UK, you may be able to register to vote in:
- General elections
- European elections in the UK.
for up to 15 years since you were last registered on the electoral register at a UK address.
An application lasts one year. We will write to you three months before your registration is going to expire.
Armed Forces
If you are overseas in the armed forces, you can vote in:
- General elections
- Local elections
- European elections in the UK.
An application lasts for five years. We will write to you three months before your registration is going to expire so you can renew your application.
Crown servants
If you work for the Government, you can vote in:
- General elections
- Local elections
- European elections in the UK.
An application lasts for one year. We will write to you three months before your registration is going to expire.
Declaration Voter
If you are homeless or have no fixed address (this would include guardian of commercial properties), a person in a mental health hospital or a person remanded in custody, you can still register to vote. To register, you need to complete the declaration of local connection form. Please contact the electoral office for a form on 0208 430 2000 or email elections@newham.gov.uk.
Anonymous Registration
If you think your name and address being on the electoral register could affect your safety, or the safety or someone in your household, you can register to vote anonymously.
This means you will still be able to vote, but your name and address will not be on the electoral register. Your electoral registration office will not disclose your details to anyone, unless they are legally required to. To register, you need to complete the declaration of local connection form. Please contact the electoral office for a form.
