Voting in the UK: Things you should know

Voting is a fundamental right and a critical avenue for enacting change.

For the Romani (Gypsy), Roma & Irish Traveller communities, engaging in the electoral process is essential to address the unique needs and concerns our communities face every day.

In this blog we lay out the basics of what you need to know when it comes to voting in the UK.

British or qualifying Commonwealth citizens aged 16 or over can register to vote, but you cannot vote until you are 18.

This includes Commonwealth citizens who have leave to remain in the UK or do not require such leave, citizens of the Republic of Ireland or other European Union (EU) member states.

In terms of voting, British, Irish and qualifying citizens of Commonwealth countries (including Cyprus and Malta) can vote at all elections.

Citizens of other EU member states resident in the UK can vote in local government elections but cannot vote in UK Parliamentary elections.

Those that reside in Scotland or Wales may also vote in Scottish Parliamentary or National Assembly for Wales election.

Even if you have accepted photo ID you will still not be able to vote if you are not registered, and you can’t apply for a Voter Authority Certificate unless you’ve already registered.

Registering to vote only takes around 5 minutes, and you can do it via the online voter registration form.

You only need to register once, unless you move or change address.

Please remember: You must register at least two weeks before an upcoming election to vote

All you need to register is:

• Your full name
• Your date of birth
• Your national insurance number
• Your current address.

If you don’t own any of the types of photo ID listed above, you can apply for a free voter authority certificate from the Government. You won’t be able to use this document as proof of ID in other settings, but you will be able to show it at polling stations, so you are able to vote.

You can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate online, or by post, and you can start your application by visiting The ID application form online.

The Traveller Movement team are also here to support you with any help you need in completing your application, and you can find out more on this factsheet.

You can give us a call, or get in touch at policylead@travellermovement.org.uk

When you register to vote, you will automatically join what is called the ‘open’ register. This is the version of the register that anyone is allowed to buy. When you register to vote, you will have the choice to opt out of the open register, and this will not affect your right to vote.

If you opt out, you will join what is called the ‘full’ register. For more information, visit the UK government page on Anonymous voter registration here.

If you are worried about your name and address appearing on the full register, and think it could risk your safety or the safety of someone you live with, you can register to vote anonymously – this means your details won’t appear on any version of the register, but you will still be allowed to vote.

To apply to register anonymously, you will need evidence to support your application. This could either be a court document, or a supporting statement from certain authorised persons like GPs, Directors of children’s or adult social services, or a police officer of Inspector rank or above.

You can vote in three simple ways.

1. In person, you go to your local polling station on election day- your polling card will tell you where to go, and you will need to show accepted ID (shown above).
2. If you prefer not to vote in person, you can apply for a postal vote, which allows you to receive your ballot paper by post, fill it in at home and return it before the deadline.
3. If you’re unable to vote yourself, you can choose a trusted person to vote on your behalf through a proxy vote, but you must apply in advance, and your proxy will also need to bring accepted photo ID.

Whichever method you choose, registering is the first step, and it only takes a few minutes.

You can still register to vote even if you don’t have a permanent address. If you live on a roadside camp, move around a lot, or stay on different sites, you can register using a local connection.

This means the place you spend most of your time – for example, a regular stopping place or a site you often use.

If you don’t have any fixed place at all, you can fill in a Declaration of Local Connection, which lets you use an address you are linked to, like a nearby community centre, council office, or the area you normally stay.

This makes sure that people from Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller communities can still get on the voting register and have their voices heard.

If you need more support, you can contact your local council or contact us on: policylead@travellermovement.org.uk