Registering to Vote
Whether you have moved home or are registering to vote for the first time you can register to vote all year round. To register to vote you will need to download a registration form and complete it. All applications to vote need to be accompanied by a handwritten signature, this means that there is no capacity to register automatically online. If you are already registered but have moved to a new address or have changed you name we still require a signature to make these changes. If you have moved home you will still need to complete a registration form, but if you have changed names a simple note would surfice as long as it is signed.
It is your responsibility to register - just because you pay Council Tax or have a library card you are not automatically registered to vote. If you are not sure if you are registered to vote, you can contact the Electoral Services Unit.
Registration Deadlines
When applying to register please be aware of the legal monthly deadlines within which we work.
| Last date for forms to arrive at Electoral Services Unit | Issue Notice - Effective Date of Entry onto the Electoral Register |
|---|---|
| 31 October 2012 | 7 November 2012 |
| 12 December 2012 | 2 January 2013 |
| 10 January 2013 | 1 Febuary 2013 |
| 7 February 2013 | 1 March 2013 |
| 11 March 2013 | 2 April 2013 |
| 9 April 2013 | 1 May 2013 |
| 10 May 2013 | 3 June 2013 |
| 7 June 2013 | 1 July 2013 |
| 10 July 2013 | 1 August 2013 |
| 9 August 2013 | 2 September 2013 |
Applying for a Postal Vote.
If you would rather vote by post than at a polling station you can complete and download a postal vote application it is important that you have completed a registration form first if you are not already registered as the postal vote application form will not get your name added to the register.
Applying for a proxy vote.
If you cannot get to the polling station itself and do not want to vote by post you can apply to have a proxy vote and have someone vote on your behalf. If you wish to apply for a proxy vote you should download the relevant proxy application, please be aware you can set up a temporary proxy vote for just one election without having to get your application supported by anyone else. Unless you are registered blind, to apply for a proxy vote for more than one election you may have to get someone to support your application to confirm that your reason for applying to vote by a proxy is valid.
Postal and Proxy Voting - Signature Refresh.
If your postal or proxy vote application is more than five years old, we are required by law to ask you to provide an up to date sample of your signature.
This year we have written to nearly 12,000 voters whose signature is more than five years old to ask for an updated signature. Unless we receive your updated signature, your postal or proxy vote will be cancelled.
If we are required to cancel your postal vote, you can still apply for a new one and to do so you will need to provide your signature and date of birth again. Under current rules, you can apply for a new postal vote up to 11 working days before an election, otherwise you will have to vote at your local polling station
If you have received a letter from us asking for a refreshed signature, please respond as soon as possible. By law, we are required to send out a reminder and if you do not respond by 14 March, your postal or proxy vote will be cancelled.
Why Should I Register to Vote?
If you aren't registered you can't vote. To vote in any UK elections you have to be on the register.
If you want a say on Manchester City Council, who represents you at the House of Commons, European Parliament or your Police and Crime Commisioner, then you need to be registered. Remember, registering to vote doesn't mean you have to vote, it just means that you can vote if you want to.
Credit reference agencies use the electoral register as part of their checks. If your name is not on the register it may affect your credit rating. You could experience problems getting loans, mortgages, finance agreements, mobile phone contracts etc.
Who is Eligible to Vote
You can register to vote if you are:
- Living at an address in Manchester
- 18 years old or older.
- Reach the age of 18 during the period the register is in force but not actually vote till you reach the age of 18.
- A British, Commonwealth citizen or a citizen of the Irish Republic or other European Union state. View the full list of eligible nationalities.
Further information on;
- Registering to vote if you are a student
- Registering to vote if you are a second home owner
- If you live abroad, register to vote as an Overseas Elector
- If you are in the Armed forces, register to vote as a service voters
- Find out if you can register to vote anonymously.