United Kingdom General Elections

Everything the expatriate UK citizen needs to know about voting in the General Elections - the key facts and contact details are all here.

UK citizens resident outside the country may vote in national elections provided they have:

Registered to vote
Applied for postal or proxy voting

These rules are a result of the "The Representation of the People Act 2000" which affects registration procedures for overseas electors.

Legislation allows for postal voting.
Legislation allows applications to be countersigned by any British Citizen, (for example, a Consular Officer if they are satisfied that the applicant is a British Citizen resident overseas.)
Legislation establishes rolling electoral registers. From 16 February 2001, any British Citizen resident overseas can apply for registration at any time during the year.

A British Citizen wishing to apply for registration as an overseas elector has to have been registered on an electoral register at an address in the UK within the 15 years prior to their application. A person too young to have been registered 15 years prior may supply the name of a parent or guardian registered to vote.

Comprehensive information is available from:

The Electoral Commission and its websites:
- Postal Votes and
- About My Vote

Register to Vote

An "Application to Register as an Overseas Elector" form must be completed. This can be downloaded from the Electoral Commission website or applied for at the nearest British Consulate General (there may be a small charge). The completed application form must be returned to the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) for the area in which the voter was last registered as an elector.

To find the relevant ERO: Click here

The Application to Register as an Overseas Elector form can be downloaded from the site; enter postcode for last UK address and follow the links to Register to vote.

Further information is available from the ERO in the local government office in the constituency of the last place of residence in the United Kingdom, or from the local British Consulate General.

How to Vote from Abroad

Registered electors can apply to vote by post or by proxy.

Postal voting

The law allows anyone included in a register of electors to apply for a postal vote from in or outside of the UK. The postal vote application form must be completed, signed and returned at least 11 working days before the election.

A ballot paper and "declaration of identity" form will be sent to the home address about one week before the election.

All postal votes must arrive at the Returning Officer before the end of voting on the day of the election. They may be delivered either by post or in person (it can be handed in to the Returning Officer or to a polling station in the electoral area on Election Day).

Note: If the postal vote is to be sent to an overseas address, ensure that the postal services can deliver it and return it to the relevant election office in the UK within five working days. If it's not certain that this can be achieved, it is strongly recommended to appoint a proxy in the UK to vote by post or in person.

Voting by proxy

A voter unable to vote in person at their polling station may apply to appoint a "proxy" who will vote on their behalf provided they are eligible to vote. A proxy must be at least 18-years old and not disqualified to vote in their own right. For a General Election the proxy must be a British, Commonwealth or Irish citizen. No person may act as a proxy for more than two people at the same election, unless those two people are closely related.

A voter wishing to use a proxy will need to find someone who is willing to vote for them. The relevant form must be completed, signed and sent to the ERO. The proxy will then be able to vote at the polling station or by post.

If a proxy has been appointed but the voter finds they are able to attend the polling station in person, they may vote providing they (or their proxy) has not been sent a postal ballot paper.

A separate application form should be completed for each member of a household who wishes to arrange a postal or proxy vote.