Register to vote

Your vote counts: Register now.

Register to vote

On Thursday 7th May, you will have the opportunity to help elect a new government and a new council – but only if you have registered to vote. Changes last year made everyone responsible for their own registration. Areas like Burngreave risk losing out through people not registering.

Many residents will already be registered but, if not, you can do so quickly and easily via the government website – http://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote – or by using the reminder form sent out by the Council. If you don’t have a National Insurance number, you can still register. You do not have to be a UK citizen. You can register if you have Irish, EU or Commonwealth citizenship. EU citizens can vote in local elections but not parliamentary ones.

Students (or anyone with two homes) can register both here and at a ‘home’ address outside Sheffield. You can only vote for an MP in one place but you can vote for each council where you are registered.

You can keep your name off the ‘open register’ (which is on open sale, for example to direct mail companies and debt collection agencies) by ticking the appropriate box on the form. You can also ask to keep your name hidden from the electoral register if you are at risk of violence or similar. If you wish to use this option, you must discuss it with electoral services on 0114 273 4093.

Registering to vote does not mean you have to vote at the election on 7th May. Being registered can help you in other ways too, such as proving your credit history.

Register today, so you can vote on 7th May.