Register to vote in local elections

Local elections will take place in some places in England on Thursday 1 May.

If you want to vote in the local elections, you will need to be registered to vote.

A red cross beside a hand holding a ballot paper.

If you have not registered to vote, you will not be able to vote in the local elections.

Two people carrying boxes from a van and a lady holding up 2 different name cards.

If you have already registered to vote, you will need to register to vote again if you have:

changed your name or surname
changed your address.

If you want to vote in the local elections on Thursday 1 May, you will need to register to vote by 1 minute before midnight on Friday 11 April.

This easy read tells you how to register to vote and what information you will need.

A man searching for a webpage on a laptop sitting at a desk

You can register to vote on the government 's website at www.gov.uk/registertovote

A man with his thumb up beside a piece of paper with several ticks on it.

Information you will need to register to vote

When you register to vote, you will need to know:

which part of the UK or which country you live in

A woman holding a sign with her name written on it and underlined.

your full name

A house with an envelope with the address written on it

your address.
If you have moved house in the last 12 months, it is good if you can also give your old address.

You will have to say if you want your name and address to be on the open register.

A woman on the phone calling her doctor who is in a blue circle behind her

If your name and address is on the open register, a charity or business can see your information and might use it to contact you or to try and sell you things.

A green tick beside a hand holding a ballot paper.

You will still be able to vote if you do not want your name and address to be on the open register.

A man holding his hand to his chin thinking

You will also be asked:

A baby next to a map of the UK with a pin in the North East

your nationality
This is usually the country you were born in.

A calendar showing June 1972 with Friday 10th circled in red next to a picture of a baby

your date of birth

A card with the words National Insurance Numbercard written on it with a reference number circled in red and a persons name

your national insurance number.

A lady shrugging her shoulders with a question mark beside her.

You can still fill in the form if you do not know your nationality, date of birth or national insurance number, but you may have to give some extra information before you can be registered to vote.

This might mean that it will take longer for you to be registered to vote.

Logos of Mencap and The Electoral Commission

This Easy Read has been adapted from the Registering to Vote easy read made with The Electoral Commission.