Elections Act 2022

Votes for life

From 16 January 2024, if you are a British citizen living abroad, you can register to vote as an overseas elector no matter how long ago you left the UK or were last registered to vote. This revokes the fifteen year limit previously in place.

Changes to registrations and renewals

The new changes introduced on 16 January 2024 will also see overseas declaration renewals move from every year to every three years, although there will be a transition period for existing overseas electors. We will contact you when you are due to renew.

Applicants will now need to supply their National Insurance number on all registrations and postal/proxy vote applications.

For existing overseas electors with a proxy vote, you will be required to renew this before 31 January 2024. For existing overseas electors with a long-term postal vote, you will be required to renew this before 31 January 2026. The Elections team will contact all electors who this affects.