The UK is heading for its first December election in nearly a century after MPs backed Boris Johnson's call to hold a snap poll.
MPs last night backed a bill in favour of a pre-Christmas general election 438 votes to 20, with the legislation expected to pass through the House of Lords unopposed today.
The approval effectively clears the way for an election on December 12, a victory for the Prime Minister at the fourth time of asking who insists it's the only way to end the Brexit deadlock in Parliament.
With the general election date looming, it's time for the British public to start bracing for the ballot boxes in just over a month's time.
To help you prepare, we’ve set out everything you need to know to register your vote and have your say.
Am I eligible to vote?
To be eligible, you must be:
- Over 18 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
- An EU citizen living in the UK
- A UK citizen living abroad who has been registered to vote in the UK in the past 15 years
What do I need to register?
You will need your National Insurance Number.
Your passport if you are a British citizen living abroad.
How do I register?
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.
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.
