Register to vote

From 16 January 2024, the 15-year limit on voting rights for British citizens living overseas will be removed following changes implemented by the Elections Act 2022.

Any British citizen living abroad who has previously lived in, or been registered to vote in the UK, will be entitled to register and have the right to vote at UK Parliamentary elections. These voters will be registered at the constituency where they were last registered to vote, or where they lived if they were not registered to vote before.

British citizens living abroad will also no longer have to register as an overseas voter every year. Instead, registrations will be valid for three years (counted by three 1 Novembers).

New applicants will need to use the government portal to complete their application to register to vote.

Existing overseas electors will be transitioned to the new three-year rule after their next declaration renewal (following the commencement of the changes on 16 January 2024).

Please note that existing overseas electors cannot renew their declaration using the government portal, and any new applications received for existing electors will be rejected.

Overseas electors and absent voting

New and existing overseas electors are strongly encouraged to apply for an absent vote – you can now apply online for a postal vote or apply online for a proxy vote.

We would strongly recommend that new and existing overseas electors apply for a proxy vote over a postal vote wherever possible, as we cannot guarantee that a postal vote will reach you and be returned to us in time for your vote to be counted.

However, if you need a postal vote then please apply now and do not wait until an election is called. Our postal vote despatch dates are not changeable as our timeframes are defined by statutory election deadlines and external printer capacity, so it is important to register as a postal voter as soon as you can – this enables us to issue your postal pack as early as possible.

Changes for existing electors

EXISTING overseas elector that applied for a PROXY vote prior to 31 October 2023

Please note that you need to re-apply to vote by proxy before 31 January 2024 or your absent vote entitlement will expire. From 16 January 2024, you will also be required to refresh your proxy vote signature when you are next due to renew your overseas declaration.

EXISTING overseas elector that applied for a POSTAL vote prior to 16 January 2024

Please note that your postal vote entitlement will expire along with your overseas declaration if not renewed. You will need to re-apply for a postal vote online after renewing your declaration if you wish to continue voting by post.

Students can register at both their home and their college or university address but can only vote once in a UK general election.

If your home and university addresses are in two different local authority areas you can vote in local elections in both areas.

It is a criminal offence to vote twice in a UK general election.

There’s a different service for public servants (and their spouses and civil partners) who are posted overseas:

Members of the armed forces

As a member of the armed forces you can register to vote if serving outside of the UK. Registering as a service voter means that you’ll only have to renew your registration every 5 years. You’ll get a reminder when it’s time to renew. Register online through gov.uk armed forces registration. 

If you have a permanent home address in the UK and want to be registered at that address, you can also apply online through gov.uk as a non-service UK voter.

Crown servants and British Council employees

If you’re a crown servant posted abroad (such as in the diplomatic service or overseas civil service) or an employee of the British Council, you can complete the gov.uk online register to vote Crown servants and British Council employees form.

Alternatively you can print off and complete the gov.uk register to vote as a Crown servant or British Council employee form and either:

You can still register to vote even if you do not have a permanent address in the UK.

This may be because:

• you are homeless or have no fixed address
• you have been remanded in custody (but have not been convicted of an offence)
• you are a patient in a mental health hospital

You will need to print off and complete the gov.uk register to vote if you haven't got a fixed or permanent address form and either:

People with a learning disability have the same right to vote as everyone else. If you need assistance to register to vote there is a helpful step-by-step, easy read guide to registering to vote for people with a learning disability on gov.uk.

Anonymous registration was set up to help individuals whose safety would be at risk (or where the safety of other people at the same address as them would be at risk) if their name or address was listed on the electoral register – for example a person who has fled domestic abuse.

If you are registered anonymously your name and address will not appear on the electoral register.

Find out more about anonymous voting registration on gov.uk or email our electoral services team: elections@arun.gov.uk or call: 01903 737616 in confidence.

If you have changed your address, you will need to complete a new register to vote application. 

If you have changed your name or need to correct a spelling mistake in your name, you will need provide supporting evidence as proof, such as a marriage or birth certificate and print off and complete our Change of name form.pdf [pdf] 216KB.

If you have changed your name and changed your address, you will need to make a new register to vote application.