UK Polling Card

If you want to vote, you demand to be on the balloter register (Picture: Getty)

The electoral register (sometimes called the electoral roll) lists the names and addresses of everyone who's registered to vote.

If you wish to take part in general elections in the future or other votes – such as referendums – you demand to be part of the electoral annals.

With local elections on May 5 in 2022, it'southward an important time to check if you lot're all set to vote.

Curious to find out if you're already on the electoral coil, or how to sign upwardly? Hither's all you need to know.

Am I on the electoral gyre?

If you desire to bank check if you are registered on the electoral register y'all will need to contact your local Balloter Registration Role.

Alternatively, you tin can enter your postcode into The Electoral Committee's website and this volition help y'all discover your local Balloter Services role. The website should also give you an electronic mail you tin utilize to contact the registration part, and they tin permit you know if you're registered to vote or not.

Polling station sign

Anyone over the age of 16 can register to join the electoral curl (Flick: Getty)

Who tin can register to vote?

To register to go on the electoral coil, you must be aged 16 or over (or 14 or over in Scotland and Wales).

Yous must also be one of the following:

  • A British citizen
  • An Irish or EU citizen living in the United kingdom
  • A Commonwealth citizen who has permission to enter or stay in the UK, or who does not need permission
  • A denizen of some other country living in Scotland or Wales who has permission to enter or stay in the UK, or who does not need permission

Once you're registered on the electoral register, you can begin voting in referendums and general elections when you're xviii or over.

If y'all live in Scotland or Wales, you can vote in some elections when you're 16 or over.

Ballot paper for the Brexit referendum

Too as voting in General Elections, being registered is required for of import referendums, like the Brexit vote (Picture: Getty)

How to join the balloter register

If yous are not sure of your condition regarding the electoral register, you can contact your local electoral function.

If you already know that you lot're non registered, the process of doing so is quite straightforward. The gov.u.k. website has an application course yous can fill up out – you volition need your National Insurance number and other basic information like your name and accost.

Low Angle View Of Road Sign Against Sky

Registering to vote is easy (Movie: Getty)

When is the registration deadline for local elections 2022?

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland the deadline to register to vote is midnight tonight – Apr 14 – while in Scotland the deadline is April 18.

Do I have to exist on the electoral register?

If you're asked to register and do not, you could be fined.

You will not exist fined if you have a valid reason for not registering, for example a long stay in hospital, or y'all have astringent learning difficulties.

Being on the electoral register has benefits as well allowing y'all to take your voice heard in elections.

Your Electoral Curlicue status may make information technology easier to:

  • Become a passport
  • Pass employer and landlord checks
  • Open up credit accounts, such as credit cards and mortgages
  • Laissez passer checks for insurance or utilities

MORE : How does local election voting work?

More : You need to vote in the upcoming local elections – hither'southward why

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