Registering to vote
Who can register to vote?
In order to register to vote you must be eligible to appear on the Electoral Register. If you are 16 or 17, you can only register if you will be 18 within the lifetime of the electoral register. This year's register lasts from 1 December 2009 to 30 November 2010. You cannot vote until you are 18.
Students
Students may be able to register at home and at their term-time address. So wherever you are on election day, you can have your say. you will need to complete a registration form and return it to the Electoral Registration Officer at your term-time local council.
The over 70s are requested to tick a column on the registration form to show that they are over 70. This information is not shown on the published Electoral Register. We ask for this because over 70s are not eligible for jury service.
You must be resident at the address at which you want to register, and you must be a citizen of one of the following countries - even if you have the right to live here:
- United Kingdom
- Republic of Ireland
- British Dependent Territories
- Commonwealth countries
- European Union countries
When completing your registration form, please make sure that you write your nationality in the nationality box. Not all nationalities have the same voting rights and therefore it is important that we have the correct information for each elector. If you are a former foreign national that has been granted British citizenship, please state British.
Hong Kong
Following its transfer to Chinese sovereignty on 1 July 1997, Hong Kong was deleted from the list of British Overseas Territories.
Any previous resident of Hong Kong who holds a British Dependent Territories, British Nationals (Overseas) or British Overseas passport meets the nationality criteria for all elections in the UK.
Any previous resident of Hong Kong who only has a Chinese Special Administrative Region passport is Chinese and may not register.
Who can vote in which election?
UK Parliamentary elections (every four or five years) - British, Commonwealth and Republic of Ireland citizens.
Mayor of London and the London Assembly elections (every four years) - British, Commonwealth, Republic of Ireland and European Union citizens - excluding overseas electors
Local Government elections (every four years) - British, Commonwealth, Republic of Ireland and European Union citizens - excluding overseas electors
European Parliamentary elections (every five years) - British, Commonwealth, Republic of Ireland and European Union citizens
Referenda (ad hoc) - British, Commonwealth, Republic of Ireland and European Union citizens
Contact Details
- Contact name
- Electoral Services
- Telephone
- 020 8726 6300
- Fax
- 020 8407 1308
- electoral.services@croydon.gov.uk
- Address
- Electoral Services
The Town Hall
Katharine Street
Croydon
CR9 1DE
Office hours are 8.45am to 5.15pm.
