Voting

The Electoral Services team organises all elections held across the borough, from parish and borough council, to Parliamentary and European Elections. You can only vote in elections if your name is on the Register of Electors.

Who can vote

Local Government elections

A person can vote in local government elections if they are:

• a British citizen living in the UK
• a qualifying Commonwealth citizen or European Union citizen
• a citizen of the Irish Republic living in the UK
• registered to vote as a Crown Servant
• registered to vote as a service voter

A person cannot vote in local government elections if they are:

• A British citizen living abroad and are registered as an overseas elector

UK Parliamentary general elections

A person can vote in UK parliamentary general election if they are:

• be 18 years of age or over on polling day
• be a British citizen, a qualifying Commonwealth citizen or a citizen of the Republic of Ireland
• not be subject to any legal incapacity to vote

At a general election, the following cannot vote:

• anyone under 18 years old
• members of the House of Lords, who can vote at elections to local authorities, devolved legislatures and the European Parliament
• EU citizens resident in the UK
• citizens of any country apart from the UK, Irish Republic, and Commonwealth countries
• convicted persons detained in pursuance of their sentences (though remand, unconvicted and civil prisoners can vote)
• anyone found guilty within the previous five years of corrupt or illegal practices in connection with an election