Common voting & registering myths

Arrangements for registering to vote in Northern Ireland are different from the rest of the UK. This means that many of the myths about registration given here may not apply to people who live in Northern Ireland.  For more information, call the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland on 0800 4320 712, or see their FAQ page, here.

• Myth: If you pay council tax, you’re automatically registered to vote

  Truth: Even if you pay council tax, you will not automatically be registered to vote, so you need to make sure you are. Why not register to vote right now

• Myth: You have to have been born in the UK to vote in UK elections

  Truth: EU and qualifying Commonwealth citizens resident in the UK can register to vote in UK elections, although EU citizens cannot vote in UK Parliamentary (General) elections.

• Myth: I won’t be able to vote because I’ll be at work when the polling station is open, or because I’ve got childcare is

  Truth: Polling stations are open from 7am until 10pm for all UK elections, so everyone should have time to fit voting in. Plus you can now take your children with you when you go to vote. If you’re unable to make it to the polling station you can apply for a postal vote or ask someone else to cast your vote for you (a proxy). It’s always best to be registered, so if you change your mind you’ve got the option to vote if you want to.

• Myth: There are only elections every 4 years

  Truth: Although UK Parliamentary general elections only have to be held once every 5 years, there are other types of elections which affect your area and the people who represent you. These include local government elections and European Parliament elections, as well as elections in some parts of the UK to devolved bodies (the Scottish Parliament, National Assembly for Wales, Northern Ireland Assembly and the London Mayor and Assembly). Local elections are usually held more often than other types of elections, as not all councilors are elected at the same time. So you may find that there are elections happening almost every year that are relevant to you – that’s why its important to ensure you’re registered to vote! You can find information about upcoming elections in your area by entering your postcode on this website.

• Myth: You can only register once a year during the canvass

  Truth: You can register at any time of year. The register is updated each month, so if you move house or change your name or citizenship you’ll need to re-register. That way, if an election is called at short notice, you will be able to vote.

• Myth: Students have to go home to register and vote

  Truth: A student can register to vote at their term-time address as well as their home address. You can only vote once in any one election, however.

• Myth: You have to live at a fixed address to register

  Truth: People with no fixed address can register using a ‘declaration of local connection’. You should contact your local electoral registration office for more information. You can find their contact details by entering your postcode on this site.

• Myth: You have to be 18 to register to vote

  Truth: You can register to vote from the age of 16, although you cannot vote until you are 18.

• Myth: If you’re in the armed forces you have to re-register annually

  Truth: If you register as a Service Voter you will only have to re-register every three years.

• Myth: You don’t have to re-register if you’ve moved within the same local authority area

  Truth: Whenever you change any of your personal details, such as moving house, you will always need to re-register, even if you are still within the same local authority area.

• Myth: If you’re registered you have to vote

  Truth: Although the law states that you must return registration information when requested to do so, there is no obligation to vote. It’s up to you, but ensuring you are registered means that if you ever want to vote, you’ll be able to have your say.

• Myth: You have to register for each election

  Truth: In Great Britain, your registration lasts for a year. That means that as long as you return your annual canvass form once a year or a registration form from this website, you’ll be registered and you’ll be able to vote whenever an election is called. In Northern Ireland its slightly different – there’s no annual canvass so once you’re registered, you stay registered until you move house or change your details. Don't forget, if you move house or change your details, you’ll need to re-register right away otherwise you won’t be able to vote! It’s better to be safe than sorry – if you’re not sure if you’re registered to vote, you can contact your local electoral registration office and they’ll tell you – just enter your postcode on this site for their contact details.

• Myth: When I register to vote, my details will be passed on to lots of marketing companies

  Truth: There are two versions of the electoral register – the full version and the edited version. The full register is used only for elections, preventing and detecting crime and checking applications for financial credit. The edited register is available for general sale and can be used for commercial activities like marketing. When you register to vote, you can choose to tick a box to opt out of the edited register, which means your details will not be used in this way.

• Myth: Registering to vote makes you more attractive.

  Truth: Obviously this isn’t true, but why not register anyway?