How to register vote in the UK general election and how to submit postal votes

This is how to make sure you're registered to vote in the the UK general election

People have until midnight to register to vote in a general election which is being dubbed the most important in decades.

Voters will head to the polls in just over two weeks' time, and from Brexit to the future of the Union and the NHS, all the major issues are on the table.

Mr Johnson hopes the election will secure him a majority in Parliament, which he insists is the only way to end the Brexit logjam which paralysed Parliament.

With the general election D-Day looming, it's time for the British public to start bracing for the ballot boxes.

To help you prepare, we’ve set out everything you need to know to register your vote and have your say.

Election 2019: November 25 round-up

What is the deadline for voting?

You must register to vote by 11.59pm on Tuesday, November 26 to vote in the election.

The deadline for applying to vote by post is 5pm on November 26 if you live in England, Scotland or Wales.

For those in Northern Ireland the deadline is November 21.

Once you've registered to vote, you can apply to vote by proxy.

Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm on December 12.

It is now too late to apply to vote by post or proxy if you live in Northern Ireland.

Am I eligible to vote?

To be eligible to vote, you must be:

  • 18 or over on the day of the vote
  • Registered on the electoral roll
  • A British or Irish citizen
  • A Commonwealth citizen living in the UK who has leave to enter or remain or does not require the leave
  • A UK citizen living abroad who has been registered to vote in the UK in the past 15 years
  • Not be legally excluded from voting

What do I need to register?

You will need your National Insurance Number, but you can still register without one.

If you don't know your NI number, you will likely be asked to provide some other form of ID, such as a photo of your passport or driving licence, to the Electoral Registration Officer.

Your passport if you are a British citizen living abroad.

After you are registered, your name and address will appear on the electoral register.

How do I register?

General Election 2019: Opinion polls over the last seven days

It's very simple - all you need to do is register online here. It only takes around five minutes.

I've registered before - do I need to register again?

You may not need to if you were registered last time around.

But you must register again if you have changed address, name or nationality.

Even if you don't have a fixed home you can still register at an address where you spend a lot of your time. This requires you to fill in a form called a declaration of local connection.

How do I check that I've registered?

Your local registration office will have your details. Find out where yours is here.

How do I register to vote if I'm at university?

Students can vote using their university or home address. It is legal to be registered in two areas, but a criminal offence to vote in both.

If students are already registered at their home address, they can use a postal vote or proxy vote if they are not there on election day.

People who work away from home or who are on holiday on election day can also vote by post or proxy, which means nominating someone to cast a vote for you.

Your proxy must be aged 18 or over and also registered. If you are suddenly incapacitated or taken ill on polling day, you can apply for an emergency proxy up until 5pm on the day of the vote.

How do I register to vote if I live abroad?

You can register as an overseas voter if you are a British citizen and have been on a UK electoral register in the past 15 years as long as you are a British or eligible Irish citizen.

You will have to register in the local area where you were last registered before moving abroad.

What happens next?

You will receive a polling card in the post to your registered address once an election is called.

On the back of it will be your nearest polling station. All you need to do then is vote at the station either in person, or arrange for your vote to be carried out by post or proxy.