Registering to vote
Registering to vote
This easy read is about registering to vote.
It tells you how to register and what information you will need to register.
Before you can vote, you need to register.
If you are not registered to vote you will not be able to vote in an election.
You can register to vote on
the government
The Government are the people who run the country. The Government decide how much tax people should pay and how things like the National Health Service (NHS) should work.
's
website
A website is a page you can go to on the internet like Google or YouTube.
at www.gov.uk/registertovote.
Information you will need to register to vote
You will be asked:
- Which part of the UK do you live in or do you live in another country?
- What is your nationality? This is usually the country you were born in.
- What is your date of birth?
- What is your full name?
- Have you ever changed your name?
- What is your
national insurance
National Insurance is a type of
tax
Tax is the money that pays for things like schools, hospitals and the police. There are different types of taxes like
income tax
Income tax is the money that is taken out of the money you earn every month. It helps to pay for things we all need like hospitals and schools.
,
VAT
VAT is also called Value Added Tax. VAT is the extra money you pay when you buy things. The money goes to the government to pay for things like schools and hospitals.
and
council tax
Council Tax is the money that people pay to the council. It helps to pay for things like social care (support for people), parks and dustbin collection.
.
. It is money that is taken out of the money you earn each month. You pay National Insurance so that you can get a
pension
A pension is money you get when you are older to pay for the things you need. You can pay money into your pension when you are working so there is more money for when you are older.
when you are older.
number?
- What is your address?
- Do you live at a second address?
- Do you want your name to appear publicly on the electoral register?
This means that a charity or business can see your information and could use it to contact you or to try and sell you things.
You will still be able to vote if you say ‘no’ to this.
Things to remember
- You need to register to vote every time you move home.
- You need to register to vote again if you change your name or surname.
This Easy Read has been adapted from Registering to Vote easy read made with The Electoral Commission. You can see the original version here.
This Easy Read was first published on the Mencap website on 12 June 2024.