Q: I live overseas, how do I register to vote?

A: If you are a British citizen over 18 years of age living abroad, but you have been registered to vote in the UK within the last 15 years, you can apply to be an overseas voter (or overseas “elector”). If you were younger than 18 years of age when you left the UK, your parent or guardian must have been registered.

Once registered as an overseas voter, you are entitled to vote in elections to the UK and European Parliaments, but not UK local government elections or elections for the Scottish Parliament, the Welsh Assembly or the Northern Ireland Assembly.

For further information and to register as an overseas voter, download and complete the electoral registration form (for British citizens living overseas and return it to the Electoral Registration Office covering the address where you were last registered to vote in the UK (the addresses are also available on the website).

If you would like to vote by post or by proxy, you can complete either the postal or proxy vote application form that accompanies the registration form.

It is not yet clear whether overseas voters will be permitted to take part in the planned referendum on the EU constitution. Each referendum requires a separate piece of enabling legislation, yet to be developed, that confirms those eligible to vote. For further details visit the referendums area of the Electoral Commission website.

Q: What if I am a Crown Servant or British Council employee overseas? 

A: If you are working outside the UK as a Crown Servant, serving in the armed forces or are an employee of the British Council, you can still register to vote. You can also register if you are married to a Crown Servant or British Council employee and you are accompanying them during their employment abroad.

You will be entitled to vote in General, Local, Devolved Assembly and European Elections in the UK.

For further information and to register, download and complete the electoral registration form(service declaration) for Crown Servants and British Council employees and return it to the Electoral Registration Office for the address where you were last registered to vote in the UK.

If you would like to vote by post or by proxy, you can fill in either the postal or proxy vote application form that accompanies the registration form.

It is not yet clear whether overseas voters will be permitted to take part in the planned referendum on the EU constitution. Each referendum requires a separate piece of enabling legislation, yet to be developed, that confirms those eligible to vote. For further details visit the referendums area of the Electoral Commission website.