Registering to vote

Deaf and Disabled People’s Organisations have a key role to play in making sure people know about the election, are registered to vote and use their vote

To vote in a general election you must:

  • be registered to vote
  • be 18 or over on the day of the election (‘polling day’)
  • be a British, Irish or qualifying Commonwealth citizen
  • be resident at an address in the UK (or a British citizen living abroad who has been registered to vote in the UK in the last 15 years)
  • not be legally excluded from voting

There are 650 Members of Parliament (MPs) in the UK Parliament.

MPs are elected using the First Past the Post system. You vote once for a candidate in your constituency and the candidate with the most votes becomes your MP.

You can find your local MP here

You can also register by post

There are voter register forms you can print out in different formats including easy read and large print here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/voter-registration-forms-paper-versions

Anyone can apply for a postal vote – you don’t need a special reason for wanting one. To apply for a postal vote go to: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/apply-for-a-postal-vote

You can also vote by proxy

If you are unable to vote in person you can get someone to vote for you, and tell them who to vote for. This is called a proxy vote. To apply for a proxy vote go to: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/proxy-voting-application-forms

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