Register to vote (armed forces)
Use this service to get on the electoral register or to update your details if you鈥檙e posted abroad and you鈥檙e:
- a member of the armed forces
- the spouse or civil partner of someone in the armed forces
This service is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).
You can no longer register to vote or apply for a postal or proxy vote in the 1 May 2025 elections in England. You can still register for future elections and referendums.
Register online
Registering takes around 5 minutes.
You鈥檒l need your service number and National Insurance number (if you have one).
You only need to register once - you do not need to register separately for every election.
Your registration lasts up to 5 years. You鈥檒l get a reminder when it鈥檚 time to renew.聽 If you do not renew your registration, you鈥檒l be removed from the register and will need to register to vote again.
What you need to know
You can vote when you鈥檙e 18 or over. If you鈥檙e from Scotland or Wales, you can vote in some elections when you鈥檙e 16 or over - check which elections you鈥檙e eligible to vote in.
You can also register to vote using a paper form.
If you have a permanent home address in the UK and want to be registered at that address, you can register to vote as a non-service voter instead.
Apply for a postal or proxy vote
After you鈥檝e registered, you can either:聽聽
If you live in another country and you choose to apply for a postal vote, you should apply as soon as possible. It can take a long time for your postal vote ballot pack to reach you and get back to the UK.
Children of a member of the armed forces
Different rules apply depending on where you鈥檙e from.
If you鈥檙e from England or Northern Ireland
If you鈥檙e 16 or over, you can either:
- register to vote in the UK if you have a permanent聽home address in the UK and want to be registered at that address
- register as an overseas voter if you live outside of the UK
If you鈥檙e from Scotland or Wales
You can register to vote if both of the following apply:
- you鈥檙e between 14 and 17 years old
- you鈥檙e based overseas and living with a parent or guardian who is a member of the armed forces
You need to register to vote using a paper form as a child of a member of the armed forces.
Your registration lasts for 12 months. You鈥檒l get a reminder when it鈥檚 time to renew.
When you鈥檙e 18 or over, you鈥檒l need to either:聽
If you鈥檙e a crown servant or British Council employee
There鈥檚 a different way to register to vote for crown servants and British Council employees. For example, if you are in the diplomatic service or overseas civil service.