Register to Vote
How to Register
You will need your National Insurance (NI) number and date of birth - it will take around five minutes to apply.
In order to register to vote, you must be:
- Aged 16 or over
- Be a British or Irish citizen, or a qualifying Commonwealth or EU citizen (qualifying means you have either leave to remain, retained rights or are a citizen of Denmark, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal or Spain)
- Be resident in the local authority area or be a UK citizen living abroad
Further information on the Electoral Register and voting is set out below.
What is the Electoral Register?
The Electoral Register is a document prepared by the Electoral Registration Officer. The Register contains the names and addresses of all electors eligible to vote in local government and / or parliamentary elections within the local authority area.
Why should I add my name to the Electoral Register?
If your name is not on the Electoral Register, you will not be able to vote in any elections or referendums held here. Registering to vote is a crucial step in taking part in democracy, and there are compelling reasons why you should do it:
As a qualifying adult residing permanently in the UK, you have a legal right to vote and registering ensures you can exercise that right when elections come around.
- You can influence decisions that affect you.
Whether it's national policies or local services, decisions made by elected officials impact your daily life—education, healthcare, housing, and more. Voting gives you a say in who makes those decisions.
In many elections, especially local ones, outcomes can be decided by a small number of votes. Your vote genuinely matters and can influence the result.
Voting is a powerful way to express your views and stand up for what you believe in. Even if you don’t support any of the candidates, casting your ballot is still an effective way to express your views. You can use your ballot to register dissatisfaction with the choices available, which sends a clearer message than not voting at all. Not voting can be interpreted as apathy, but submitting a ballot, even without selecting a candidate, shows you require a different choice than those available.
- Historical and global significance.
Many people around the world still fight for the right to vote. In the UK, it was not that long ago that women and working-class citizens had to campaign for their right to vote. Registering to vote honours that legacy and helps protect democratic freedoms.
Credit Reference Agencies receive copies of the Electoral Register. Being on the Electoral Register can improve your credit score, which can make it easier to apply for mobile phones, loans etc.
- Registering to vote is quick and easy.
Registering to vote takes just a few minutes online. Once you're registered, voting itself is straightforward and well-supported with clear instructions.
When you need to re-register
If you have changed address, you will need to re-register at your new address- even if you have moved within the same council area. You can do this online at https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.
- If you have changed your name.
If you have changed your name, you can submit a new application to register to vote at https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote and this will update the register.
Alternatively, you can email a copy of your marriage certificate or deed poll along with your previous name, new name and your address details to vote@dover.gov.uk and we can update it for you.
Contact
Tel: 01304 872344
Email: vote@dover.gov.uk