About voting
Before you can vote in UK elections or referendums you need to register to vote. Your name and address will then appear on the electoral register.
If you’re on the electoral register you will receive a poll card a few weeks before the election. You can still vote without a poll card, but it makes things easier if you have it with you.
Your poll card will tell you the opening times and location of your polling station.
You can vote:
- in person
- by postal vote
- by proxy vote (getting someone else to vote for you)
To be able to vote in Woking borough, you need to:
- be 18 years of age
- normally live at an address in Woking borough
- be a British, Irish, Commonwealth or European Union (EU) citizen.
Foreign nationals
If you’re a foreign national and wish to see if you are eligible to register, please check against the list of eligible nationalities.
Find out which foreign nationals can vote
Students
Students may register at both their home address and their college or university address. It is not an offence to register twice, but it is an offence to vote more than once in the same election.
British citizens living abroad (overseas voter)
If you are a British citizen living abroad, you can apply to be an 'overseas voter'. From 16 January 2024, the 15-year limit on voting rights for British citizens living overseas was removed.
If you are a UK citizen living abroad, you can apply to be an overseas voter if you have previously lived or been registered to vote in the UK at some point in your life. Overseas declarations are now valid for three years, lasting until 1 November in the third year after it takes effect. For example, if the declaration takes effect on 1 March 2024, it will expire on 1 November 2026.
As an overseas voter you are only eligible to vote in UK Parliament general elections, by-elections and recall petitions.
Find out more about overseas voters and registration
Postal and proxy voters for overseas voters
Overseas voters must remember to apply separately to vote by post (postal vote) or to apply for someone to vote on their behalf (proxy vote), unless they intend to return home to vote in person.
Service personnel and their spouse
Service personnel and their spouse can register:
- annually as an ordinary voter
- by a service declaration (these last three years)
For more information and to register to vote
Crown servants or British Council employees
Crown servants or British Council employees working outside the UK can still register to vote. The spouse accompanying them during their employment abroad can also register under these arrangements.
Get more information and register to vote online
Homeless people
Homeless people may register at the address or place where they spend a large part of their time either during the day or at night.
To register to vote, you can:
- Register online at GOV.UK
- Contact us on 01483 755 855 for a paper registration form
Remand prisoners
Remand prisoners may register at the institution where they are currently resident or at the address they would have been resident or have previously lived.
To register to vote, you can:
- Register online at GOV.UK
- Contact us on 01483 755 855 for a paper registration form
Mental health patients
Mental health patients, either voluntary or detained (but not those detained for criminal activity) may register at the institution where they are currently resident or at the address they would have been resident or have previously lived.
To register to vote, you can:
- Register online at GOV.UK
- Contact us on 01483 755 855 for a paper registration form
More information
Visit the Electoral Commission’s website to find more about voting and who can vote