Register to vote

You are responsible for registering yourself to vote.

You are not automatically registered to vote by other contact you have had with the council, such as when you register for council tax.

The quickest and easiest way to register is online.

If you know someone who cannot register to vote online we can either -

register over the phone by telephoning 0191 5205550
email us with their name and address to elections@sunderland.gov.uk

Anyone who calls to register needs their National Insurance Number to hand, if they have one, as this is required as part of the application.

If you can't give your national insurance number you will be asked to say why, and we may contact you to ask for further information in order to confirm your identity.

The electoral register is only updated at certain times of the year, generally the first working day of every month. Please be aware these are strict legal deadlines which we are unable to change

Find out what dates the electoral register is updated Find out what dates the elector register is updated

Why register?

you must be on the electoral register to vote in future elections and referendums
by law you must respond to an invitation to register to vote or you could be fined up to £80
if you are not on the register, which is used by credit reference agencies, you may find it harder to get a -
- loan
- mortgage
- finance agreement
- mobile phone contract

Who can register?

You can register to vote if you are -

16 or older, although you can't vote until your 18
a British Citizen
Irish, qualifying Commonwealth or European Union citizen living in the UK

Access Your vote matters website for a list of qualifying Commonwealth or European countries

You can't register to vote if you are in the UK illegally.

When will my name appear on the electoral register?

Electoral registration date information can be found here.

For more information about registering to vote can be found on Electoral Commission.