Register to vote

In England you can register to vote if you are 17 years old (and in some cases if you are 16). However, you can only vote when you become 18.

In addition you need to be a UK citizen, a qualifying Commonwealth citizen resident in the UK or an EU citizen resident in the UK. For more detailed information please go to Your vote matters.

The electoral register is used for electoral purposes, such as making sure only eligible people can vote. It is also used for other limited purposes, such as checking credit applications, detecting crime and calling people for jury service.

The open register is an extract of the electoral register, but it is not used for elections. Every person who registers to vote will be given a choice whether they wish to have their name and address included in the open register. Removing your details from the open register does not affect your right to vote.

Full details of what the Electoral Register is, how it works, and the rules governing it are provided by the Electoral Commission here

You can register to vote online, please use the link here

This service will also allow you to:

• Update your name, address or other details
• Opt in or out of the open register
• Apply for a postal or proxy vote.

Voting in person or via someone else:

Voting in person or by proxy is done at a polling station:

If you are registered to vote, you will be allocated a polling station based on your registered address. 

Polling stations may be some distance away (particularly in rural areas).  Every effort is made to choose polling stations that are easy to get to, and accessible to all.  However, polling stations have to be located in buildings normally used for other purposes and choice may be limited. 

If you think that getting to and using a polling station may be difficult, it may be possible to vote by post.  More details on postal votes can be found below. 

Voting by proxy:

If getting to and using a polling station may be difficult, and you do not wish to vote by post, you can appoint someone else to vote for you.  A person who helps you in this way is called a proxy and the vote cast is called a proxy vote.  A proxy vote counts the same as any other vote and is subject to the same security and secrecy provisions.

More details of how proxy votes work, and the rules governing them are provided by the Electoral Commission here

Application forms are available by following the link here

If you want a proxy to vote on your behalf, you must request a proxy vote in good time.  You do not have to ask for a proxy vote just for a particular election or referendum but may be able to have it for all subsequent ones.

More information about postal votes:

If you are registered to vote in an election or referendum, you may be able to vote by post.  A postal vote counts the same as a vote in person and is subject to the same security and secrecy provisions.

You do not automatically get a postal vote even if you are correctly registered for an election or referendum. If you do not already have a postal vote, you have to request a postal vote.

Full details of how postal votes work, and the rules governing them are provided by the Electoral Commission here

If you want a postal vote, you must request in good time prior to an election, please see the relevant pages on this website for forthcoming elections and their respective deadlines for applications.  You can complete an application for a postal vote just for a particular election or referendum or can be saved on a permanent basis. 

Application forms are available by following the link here

Please contact us accordingly: elections@s-norfolk.gov.uk or 01508 533704