Electoral register and voting
Register to vote
Register to vote by completing the Government online registration form. This should only take a few minutes to complete but you will need your National Insurance number to hand. Visit the Government's Find a lost National Insurance number webpage for information about where to find your National Insurance number.
Who can register to vote? Toggle accordion
Find out who is eligible to vote in the UK (and which elections they can vote in) on the Electoral Commission website.
Am I already registered to vote? Toggle accordion
If you’re unsure whether you are registered to vote you can contact Electoral Services to find out. We will get back to you within five working days.
Update your details on the electoral register
To update your name Toggle accordion
Complete the Government’s online registration form.
Alternatively, send proof of your name change to us (e.g. a copy of your marriage certificate/deed poll certificate).
If you have recently moved Toggle accordion
You will need to re-register at your new address by completing the Government’s online registration form.
For any other changes Toggle accordion
How to vote
How you vote is up to you. It may depend on what you find easiest or most convenient. In the UK, there are three different ways you can vote.
In Person Toggle accordion
Most people vote in person at their polling station. Polling stations are open from 7am to 10pm on election day.
You will receive a poll card telling you where your polling station is. Poll cards are usually sent around four weeks before an election. You can still cast your vote if you lose or forget your poll card. A member of staff will help if you are not sure what to do.
As part of the Elections Act 2022, the UK Government has introduced a requirement for voters to show photo ID when voting at a polling station at most elections. Further information is available on our Elections Act and Voter ID page.
Further information about polling stations is available on our Polling stations, districts and boundaries page.
By Post Toggle accordion
Voting by post is an easy and convenient way of voting if you’re unable to get to the polling station.
If you apply to vote by post, you will receive your ballot paper through the post at election time. Postal ballot papers are usually sent out two weeks before an election. They must be returned to us by 10pm on the day of an election in order to be included in the count.
Apply online for a postal vote: www.gov.uk/apply-postal-vote.
To find out more, please visit the Electoral Commission website.
By Proxy (someone voting on your behalf) Toggle accordion
If you’re unable to vote in person on polling day, you can appoint someone you trust to attend your polling station and vote on your behalf as your proxy. Proxy votes are usually set up for one election at a time.
Proxy votes are usually set up for one election at a time. Apply online for a proxy vote for a forthcoming election: www.gov.uk/apply-proxy-vote.
To find out more, please visit the Electoral Commission website.
Please contact Electoral Services directly if your proxy can’t attend your polling station in person or if you need a proxy vote for more than one election.
About the electoral register and ‘open register’
The Electoral Services office keeps two registers – the electoral register and the open register. Further information about the two registers can be found on the Government's The electoral register and the 'open register' webpage.
The electoral register is updated at the beginning of each month. The Electoral Commission provides a list of the registration deadlines and publication dates for each update.
You may choose to have your details removed from the open register.
To remove your details from the open register Toggle accordion
Please contact Electoral Services to let us know that you wish to be excluded from the open register. Please include your full name and address in your email.
Anonymous registration Toggle accordion
If you believe that appearing on the electoral register might affect your safety, you may be able to register to vote anonymously. Further details are available on the Electoral Commission website.
To view the electoral register Toggle accordion
You can view the current electoral register in person at St Albans City and District Council's Civic Centre office. Contact Electoral Services to make an appointment (the maximum appointment time that we can offer is 20 minutes).
Historic copies of the electoral register are not available to view at our office. Hertfordshire Archives hold some historic electoral registers.