You are entitled to vote as soon as you are 18 years old. Therefore, the date of birth of all 17 year olds should be included on the register if they will turn 18 during the currency of the register. It is important these dates are accurate as young voters can vote from the date of their 18th birthday.
Students are often away at college or university and therefore have two homes; their term time lodgings and their actual home address. Because of this, students are able to register at both addresses if they wish to do so. However they are obviously only allowed to vote once at an election and must decide in which area they wish to cast their vote.
As with all electors, young voters are encouraged to check the register to ensure they are shown, especially as it is most likely that someone else has completed the Household Enquiry form sent to the property. If they find their name is not included they can complete an Invitation to Register form, which is available from Electoral Services or they can register online.
Being registered is important because it proves where they live which is something they will need to do if applying for a student loan, a bank account, a mobile phone - in fact anything to do with finance - being registered makes it easier.
When an election is called all electors are sent a polling card which tells them their electoral number, where the polling station is located and its opening hours and how to vote. However the polling card is for information only - it is not necessary to show it in order to vote.
Voter ID
People who wish to vote in person (including those acting as a proxy) are now required to produce an accepted form of photographic ID to prove their identity before they will be issued with a ballot paper. This will apply at all elections:
- Local elections (borough and county council)
- Parish elections
- Neighbourhood planning referendums
- UK parliamentary elections*
- Police and crime commissioner elections
This new requirement applied for the first time in England at the local elections on Thursday 4 May 2023, and for scheduled parliamentary elections after 5 October 2023.
What kinds of photo ID are accepted
Some examples of photo ID that you may have as a young person include:
- identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram (a PASS card)
- driving licence issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, or an EEA state - this includes a provisional licence
- passport issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, a British Overseas Territory, an EEA state, or a Commonwealth country
Expired photographic identification documents can still be used as accepted photographic ID at the polling station or signing place, as long as the photograph is still a good likeness of the elector.
If you don't have any appropriate photo ID, you can apply for:
For more information on which forms of photo ID will be accepted, visit Electoral commission - voter ID or call their helpline on 0800 328 0280 - you can also find information on our Voter ID page.
If you are not able to attend the polling station
Electors who are unable to attend the polling station in person can apply to have an Absent Vote and have two choices - they can either apply to vote by post or they can appoint someone to vote on their behalf (a proxy).
How to get in touch with us
For further information and advice please contact:
Electoral Services
Observatory House
25 Windsor Road
Slough
SL1 2EL
Helpline: 01753 477 235
Email: ballotbox@slough.gov.uk