How to Register
Register to Vote
To Register to Vote fill in your name, address, date of birth and a few other details. You'll also need your national insurance number, which can be found on your national insurance card, or in official paperwork such as payslips, or letters about benefits or tax credits. If you can't find, or have lost your national insurance number visit Find my National Insurance Number. You do not need to register if you are already on the electoral roll. You can find out by calling us on 01507 601111 or if you have any other questions.
Click on the following links if you are a;
Register As An Overseas Voter (UK citizen living abroad) - Register to vote
From 16 January 2024, the removal of the 15 year limit, if you are a British Citizen living overseas who has previously lived in the UK or been registered to vote in the UK, as been removed and you can register to vote.
A number of changes to voting from overseas now apply:
- You can register to vote if you previously lived in the UK but were not registered to vote.
- You can register to vote as an overseas elector no matter how long ago you left the UK or were last registered to vote in the UK.
- Your overseas declaration is now valid for three years, lasting until 1 November in the third year after it takes effect (for example, if your declaration takes effect on 1 March 2024, it will expire on 1 November 2026).
- You can now register online (not available in Northern Ireland).
If you are an overseas voter who registered to vote before 16 January 2024, you will need to renew your registration when your declaration expires. If you applied for a proxy vote before 31 October 2023, this will expire on 31 January 2024 and you will need to reapply for a proxy vote.
If you have a long-term postal vote that you applied for before 31 October 2023, this will now expire on 31 January 2026. The electoral services team at your local council will contact you before your postal vote expires.
Additional important information 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.
Postal ballot papers are usually sent to overseas voters two to three weeks before polling day. Overseas voters MUST be sure their completed postal vote will reach us before 10pm on polling day, or it will not be counted.
If there is any doubt that your Postal Vote can be returned to us by polling day, then you should consider applying for someone to vote on your behalf (Proxy Vote).
For more information on who can register to vote and which elections you can vote in, see; Your Vote Matters
Absent Vote
Voting by post is a quick, easy and secure alternative to voting at a polling station. Anyone who is registered to vote can apply for a postal vote, you do not need a reason to vote by post.
When applying to vote by post, you must provide us with your date of birth and signature - these are checked against the completed postal vote pack at an election to keep your vote secure. On the application you must also provide your national insurance number, as you must verify your identity when applying to vote by post.
Once registered to vote by post, you will receive a postal vote pack containing your ballot papers(s) for the next election. You will receive your postal vote pack around a week before polling day for an election. Once you receive your pack, you just mark the ballot papers(s), complete the postal vote pack and return it to us in the pre-paid envelope provided.
How to apply
To complete an application to vote by post on the secure government portal, visit www.gov.uk/apply-postal-vote
You will be required to provide your national insurance number, as well as submitting a photograph of your signature. Please ensure the photograph of your signature is on plain, white paper and that the photograph is clear and light.
If you are unable to submit an application on the secure government portal, you can download and print a paper postal vote application form or email elections@e-lindsey.gov.uk to request a paper application form.
Return your completed paper form to us either:
- As a scanned attachment to an email to elections@e-lindsey.gov.uk. Please ensure that the image is of good quality and your signature is clear. Attachments should be sent in an acceptable file format (PDF).
- or post it to us at Electoral Services, The Hub, Mareham Road, Horncastle, LN9 6PH
Please note that you must print the form and provide your physical ("wet") signature using black ink within the box provided on the application before you return your form. If you do not have access to a printer, please email elections@e-lindsey.gov.uk and we will post the application form to you.
The deadline for making an application for a postal vote for an election is 5pm, 11 working days before polling day.
If you have any questions regarding completing the postal vote application form or voting by post, please email elections@e-lindsey.gov.uk.
Proxy Vote
To complete an application to vote by proxy, visit www.gov.uk/apply-proxy-vote
If you are unable to submit an application online , your can download a Proxy voting application form .
Your application form must arrive at your electoral registration office, East Lindsey District Council, The Hub, Mareham Road, Horncastle, LN9 6PH
- The deadline for making a new application for a proxy vote for an election is 5pm, 6 working days before an election or referendum
- The dadline for changing or cancelling an existing proxy, postal or postal proxy vote and by 5pm, 11 working days before an election or referendum
- If you are not already registered to vote, your application to register must have reached the Electoral Registration Officer by midnight, 12 working days before the poll.
This authority is under a duty to protect the public funds it administers, and to this end may use the information you provide for the prevention and detection of fraud. It may also share this information with other bodies responsible for auditing or administering public funds for these purposes. For further information visit our Data Matching webpage.