Registering to vote and postal voting

How do I register to vote?

You need to register in order to be able to vote. If you aren't registered to vote, you won't have the chance to have a say on who represents you.

Some people also register to vote because they want to apply for credit. This is because credit reference agencies use the register to confirm where someone lives when they apply for credit, in order to counteract fraud.

Visit www.gov.uk/register-to-vote to apply online. You will need your national insurance number.  The application should take no longer than five minutes to complete.
 

How do I vote by post or proxy?

From 31 October 2023, you are encouraged to complete your application online at  www.gov.uk/apply-postal-vote or www.gov.uk/apply-proxy-vote.

To do this, you must be able to upload your handwritten signature to the website.

You will need to provide your national insurance number when applying for either type of absent vote, whether this is online or on a paper application form. 

By post

Anyone can apply for a postal vote, but in future you must re-apply every three years. Political parties and campaigners will be banned from handling postal vote packs and there will be a limit on the number of postal vote packs that a person can hand in at a polling station on election day. You can find more information about voting by post on the gov.uk website. 

Postal voting packs are sent out via Royal Mail approximately ten working days before the election, therefore, a proxy may be a more suitable solution if you are going away on holiday.

By proxy

Voting by proxy means nominating someone else to vote on your behalf. You may need to vote by proxy if, for example, you'll be away on holiday, working, living or serving overseas on election day. A proxy will be able to act for two people living in the UK (or a maximum of four people with two people living in the UK and two people registered as overseas electors).

You can find the application form and more information about voting on the GOV.UK website. Please return your application to vote@westberks.gov.uk, or post it to the Electoral Registration Officer, West Berkshire Council, Market Street, Newbury RG14 5LD.

If you don't have access to the internet or can't use it, the electoral registration staff will be able to help you to register.