Overseas electors
Find out more about important changes for Overseas Electors at UK Parliamentary Elections.
Before January 2024 British citizens were only eligible to vote in UK Parliamentary Elections if they had previously been registered in the UK and living abroad for less than 15 years.
What has changed?
From January 2024, there's no longer a time limit. Voters that have previously lived or been registered to vote in the UK now have the right to vote in UK Parliamentary Elections.
What are the eligibility rules?
British citizens, which include eligible Irish citizens and citizens of Crown Dependencies, may register as Overseas Voters if they are now living abroad, providing they were either:
- previously registered to vote in the UK, either before they left the UK or as an overseas voter
- previously resident in the UK
You must apply to register as a voter using the address you were last registered to vote in the UK. If you've never been registered you should use the last address at which you were resident in the UK.
If you were too young to have registered to vote in the UK before you left, you'll also need to include your parent's or guardian's details and a copy of your birth certificate.
What if you've been registered at more than one address in the past?
If you've previously been registered at more than one address, you should use the most recent address.
How to register to vote
You must provide your personal identifier's which are used to verify your identity. These include your name, date of birth and National Insurance number.
If you don't have a National Insurance number, you should provide documentary evidence on your application, when prompted. to avoid any delay to your registration and proxy or postal application.
If you were never previously registered to vote and are applying based on your last UK residence you should provide documentary evidence of your residence at the address, when prompted, to avoid any delay to your registration and proxy or postal application.
or contact the Electoral Registration Officer, 16 Glasgow Road, Paisley, PA1 3QF. Tel: 0300 300 0150 Email: ero@renfrewshire-vjb.gov.uk
How can you cast your vote?
Registered Overseas Electors can apply to vote by proxy or by post. You can also vote in person if you'll be in the UK on Polling Day, but you must have valid voter ID to do so.
It's important that you arrange your voting method well in advance of an election to ensure that you can cast your vote.
Applications to vote by proxy or by post can be made online:
Alternatively, contact the Electoral Registration Officer, 16 Glasgow Road, Paisley, PA1 3QF. Tel: 0300 300 0150 Email: ero@renfrewshire-vjb.gov.uk
Voting by proxy means you nominate a person to vote on your behalf at your designated polling station. If your nominated proxy can't attend your polling station, the appointed proxy can apply to vote by post (postal proxy vote).
Your nominated proxy:
- must be registered to vote and qualify to vote in the Election (UK Parliamentary Election)
- may act as a proxy for a maximum of four electors of which no more than two can be for 'domestic' electors - i.e. not an overseas elector nor a service voter.
- must have valid voter ID if voting in person at the polling station.
Please ensure you can receive and return your postal ballot pack before the close of poll.
- depending when you apply for it, your postal vote pack will be sent out between 12 and 6 working days before polling day.
- your completed postal vote pack must arrive at the return address by 10pm on Polling Day to be valid.
- postal votes are delivered by Royal Mail in the UK and local mail delivery services internationally. If post is likely to take longer than six working days to reach you and be returned to the UK, a proxy vote may be a better option.
Deadlines to apply by Post or Proxy
At an Election there are statutory deadlines to apply for a postal and proxy vote and to change or amend an existing postal or proxy vote.
