Register to vote in London

Registering to vote puts your name on the electoral register for the address where you live. Without it you cannot take part in any election — the Mayor of London and London Assembly elections, your local borough council elections, UK general elections, or any referendum. Being on the register can also help when you apply for credit, because lenders use it to confirm your address.

The whole thing is run through GOV.UK. When you register, your details are sent to the electoral registration office at your London borough, which keeps the register for your area. You only need to register once at each address, but you must register again whenever you move.

Who can register

You can register to vote if you are:

• Aged 16 or over — you can register at 16, though you can only vote once you turn 18
• A British citizen, or an Irish or qualifying Commonwealth citizen living in the UK
• An EU citizen who meets the residence and eligibility rules for the relevant election
• Resident at a UK address (with separate routes for British citizens living abroad)

What you are entitled to vote in depends on your nationality and the type of election. The registration service on GOV.UK works this out for you from the details you give.

What you need

• Your National Insurance number, if you have one
• Your current address (and your previous address if you have moved recently)
• Your date of birth and nationality

If you do not have a National Insurance number, you can still register and provide other documents to confirm your identity. The online form guides you through it.

How to register, step by step

1. Go to the Register to vote service on GOV.UK.
2. Enter your name, address, date of birth and nationality.
3. Add your National Insurance number when asked.
4. Submit — your borough's electoral office confirms your registration by email or post.

Registration deadlines

You must be registered by the deadline set for each election, which is normally around 12 working days before polling day. Do not wait until an election is called: register as soon as you move or turn 16. If you miss the deadline for a particular poll, you will not be able to vote in it, even if you register the next day.

Voter ID at the polling station

To vote in person in England you must show an accepted form of photo ID before you are given a ballot paper. Accepted documents include a UK, Irish or EU passport, a UK or EU driving licence, a Blue Badge, and certain older person's and disabled person's travel passes. An expired document can still be accepted if the photograph is a good likeness of you.

If you do not have any accepted photo ID, you can apply free for a Voter Authority Certificate on GOV.UK. It is a simple document with your name and photo that you can use at the polling station. Apply in good time before an election, as it needs to arrive before polling day.

Voting in England — what to bring and what it costs

Item	Detail
Register to vote	Free · about 5 minutes online
Photo ID at the polling station	Required to vote in person
Voter Authority Certificate	Free · if you have no accepted photo ID
Registration deadline	About 12 working days before polling day

Note: This portal links to the official services. government.london does not hold the electoral register or process registrations — GOV.UK and your borough do.

Common questions