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Who can vote in UK elections

Changes for EU citizens in some UK elections

There have been changes to which elections you can vote in and stand as a candidate in.

Find out more about the changes for EU citizens living in England, Northern Ireland and Wales.

Who can register to vote

To register to vote, you must be aged 16 or over (but you can’t vote until you’re 18 years old) and one of the following:

  • a UK or Irish citizen
  • a qualifying Commonwealth citizen living in the UK
  • a qualifying EU citizen living in the UK

Qualifying European Union citizens

You can register to vote if you are a citizen of:

  • Denmark, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal and Spain who is resident in the UK, has permission to enter or stay in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man, or who does not need permission
  • any other EU country who on or before 31 December 2020 was legally resident in the UK, had permission to enter or stay in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man, or who did not need permission, and this has continued without a break

The other EU countries are:

  • Belgium
  • Bulgaria
  • Croatia
  • Cyprus
  • Czech Republic
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Hungary
  • Italy
  • Latvia
  • Lithuania
  • Malta
  • Netherlands
  • Romania
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • Sweden

Qualifying EU citizens (excluding Cyprus, Malta and Ireland) can register to vote in local elections, and Police and Crime Commissioner elections.

Although also EU member states, citizens of Cyprus, Malta and Ireland are eligible to be registered to vote in all elections held in the UK.

Qualifying Commonwealth citizens

The definition of a 'Commonwealth' citizen includes citizens of British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories. A 'qualifying' Commonwealth citizen is someone who has leave to enter or remain in the UK, or who doesn't require that leave.

Commonwealth countries

  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Australia
  • The Bahamas
  • Bangladesh
  • Barbados
  • Belize
  • Botswana
  • Brunei Darussalam
  • Cameroon
  • Canada
  • Cyprus
  • Dominica
  • Fiji Islands
  • Gabon
  • The Gambia
  • Ghana
  • Grenada
  • Guyana
  • India
  • Jamaica
  • Kenya
  • Kingdom of Eswatini
  • Kiribati
  • Lesotho
  • Malawi
  • Malaysia
  • Maldives
  • Malta
  • Mauritius
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • Nauru
  • New Zealand
  • Nigeria
  • Pakistan
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Rwanda
  • Samoa
  • Seychelles
  • Sierra Leone
  • Singapore
  • Solomon Islands
  • South Africa
  • Sri Lanka
  • St Kitts and Nevis
  • St Lucia
  • St Vincent and the Grenadines
  • Togo
  • Tonga
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Tuvalu
  • Uganda
  • United Republic of Tanzania
  • Vanuatu
  • Zambia

Please note:

Although also EU member states, citizens of Cyprus and Malta are eligible to be registered to vote in all elections held in the UK.

Citizens of Fiji and Zimbabwe retain their voting rights despite the countries having been suspended from the Commonwealth.

British crown dependencies

Isle of Man
The Channel Islands (including Jersey, Guernsey, Sark, Alderney, Herm and the other inhabited Channel Islands)

British overseas territories

  • Anguilla
  • Bermuda
  • British Antarctic Territory
  • British Indian Ocean Territory
  • British Virgin Islands
  • Cayman Islands
  • Falkland Islands
  • Gibraltar
  • Montserrat
  • Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands
  • Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
  • South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
  • Sovereign Base areas of Akrotiri and Dhekella on Cyprus
  • Turks and Caicos Islands

Hong Kong

Former residents of Hong Kong who hold a British Overseas Territories, British Nationals (Overseas) or British Overseas passport qualify for registration.