Voting in the UK

Who Can Vote in the UK

The UK has had a fully democratic voting system since 1928. The voting age is 18, set in 1969. Almost all UK-born and naturalised adult citizens can vote.

People from the Commonwealth and Ireland who live in the UK can also vote in all public elections.

The Electoral Register

You must be on the electoral register to vote in parliamentary or local elections. If you are eligible, you can register online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote, or download a paper form and send it to your Electoral Registration Office.

Annual Canvass

Each year from July, local authorities carry out an annual canvass. Your Electoral Registration Office will contact your household to check that the register details are correct. You may be contacted by post, email, phone, or in person.

If you change your name, address, or nationality, you must register again. By law, each local authority must make the electoral register available for supervised public viewing.

You can see the register at your local electoral registration office (or council office in England and Wales). It may also be available in public buildings, such as libraries.

Where to Vote

People vote at polling stations (or polling places in Scotland). Before the election, you will receive a poll card. It tells you where and when to vote.

On election day, polling stations are open from 7.00 am to 10.00 pm.

At the station, staff will ask for your name, address, and photo ID. You can check accepted ID at www.gov.uk/how-to-vote/photo-id-youll-need.

You will receive a ballot paper and vote in private. You must choose freely—no one can make you vote for someone else. Follow the instructions and place your paper in the ballot box when finished.

If you cannot go to the polling station, you can register for a postal vote. Your ballot paper will be sent to your home, which you fill out and post back. You can choose this option when you register.

Standing for Public Office

Most UK, Irish, and Commonwealth citizens aged 18 or over can stand for public office. However, some people cannot, including:

• Members of the armed forces
• Civil servants
• People found guilty of certain crimes

Members of the House of Lords cannot stand for the House of Commons, but they can stand for other public offices.

Visiting Parliament and the Devolved Administrations

The UK Parliament

You can watch debates in the House of Commons and House of Lords from public galleries. You can write to your MP in advance for tickets or queue on the day at the public entrance. Entry is free, but queues for the House of Commons can last 1–2 hours. It is usually easier to enter the House of Lords.

More information is available at www.parliament.uk.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Members, called MLAs, meet at Stormont in Belfast. To visit, contact the Northern Ireland Assembly Education Service at education.niassembly.gov.uk/visit or go to www.niassembly.gov.uk/visit-and-learning. You can also contact an MLA directly.

The Senedd (Wales)

Members, called SMs, meet in the Senedd building in Cardiff Bay. You can book guided tours or public gallery seats.

Contact: Senedd Booking Service – Phone: 0300 200 6565 Email: contact@senedd.wales Website: www.senedd.wales

Scottish Parliament

Members, called MSPs, meet in the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood, Edinburgh. You can book tickets or tours through visitor services.

Contact: Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh, EH99 1SP Phone: 0131 348 5200 or 0800 092 7600 (freephone) Email: visit@parliament.scot More information at www.parliament.scot

Summary of British Parliaments and Assemblies

Key Points

• UK has been fully democratic since 1928; voting age set at 18 in 1969.
• UK, Irish, and Commonwealth residents can vote in public elections.
• Must be on the electoral register to vote.
• Register online or by paper form; annual canvass checks accuracy.
• Voters need to show photo ID and vote privately.
• Postal voting available if unable to visit a polling station.
• Most adults from the UK, Ireland, or Commonwealth can stand for public office.
• Exceptions: armed forces, civil servants, and people with certain convictions.
• Members of the House of Lords cannot stand for the House of Commons.
• The public can visit the UK Parliament, Stormont, Holyrood, and the Senedd.
• Each parliament or assembly offers tours and visitor information online.