This section includes information about voting in the UK general & local elections, as well as European elections, for individuals who are away from the UK.
Getting on the electoral register
To vote in UK elections your name must appear on the electoral register. Once registered as an overseas elector, you will be able to vote in Parliamentary elections and European Parliamentary elections in the UK, but not in local government elections. The electoral register is compiled by each local authority and is not maintained by a central organisation. This means you must contact the electoral registration officer at the local council where you were last registered as an elector when living in the UK. If you left the UK before you were old enough to register, you should contact the electoral registration officer for the area where you last lived.
You can download registration information and forms online and obtain local council addresses at www.aboutmyvote.co.uk *
(Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view these .pdf files)
You can also find contact details for your local council and/or town hall from the following:
www.direct.gov.uk
www.lga.gov.uk
www.oultwood.com/localgov/index.htm
www.upmystreet.com
www2.tagish.co.uk/Links/GB.htm
Since 1 April 2002 the law has changed and overseas electors are only eligible to register for up to 15 years after they were last registered. The Register of Electors in now updated every month. You can return your application form at any time but the electoral registration office must receive the form within 3 months of you signing and dating it. You will need to register each year. The electoral registration office should send you a reminder 2-3 months before your registration expires (as long as you remain qualified).
Postal votes
New arrangements allow anyone who is on the Register of Electors to apply for a postal vote at any election. Different rules apply in Northern Ireland. You can ask for a one-off postal vote in advance of any election. Alternatively, you can ask for an automatic postal vote on a permanent basis or for a set period.
Postal voting information and forms are available online at www.aboutmyvote.co.uk *
* All forms and leaflets are also available by post from your local council or Electoral Registration Office.
For more information on voting, try the links below:
For information on previous elections and related stuff, see
For the Christian viewpoint on the various party policies, see
www.christiansinpolitics.org.uk
www.faithworks.info/lectures
www.ukchristiannews.tv/election
For information on General Election 2005 results, see
http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/ukfs_news/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005
www.aboutmyvote.co.uk
www.electoralcommission.gov.uk/elections/genelec.cfm