Voting in elections

Who can vote?

You have to be on the electoral register to be able to vote. To register. visit gov.uk/registertovote or contact us if you need further information.

Can I vote in the Local Council Elections?

To vote in the Local Council Elections, you need to be:

• aged 18 or over
• a British citizen living in the UK
• a qualifying Commonwealth citizen living in the UK
• a citizen of the Republic of Ireland living in the UK
• a European Union citizen living in the UK
• someone registered to vote as a Crown Servant
• someone registered to vote as a service voter
• a British citizen living abroad who is registered as an overseas elector cannot vote in local government elections.

Can I vote in the UK Parliamentary General Elections?

To vote in the UK Parliamentary General Elections, you need to be:

• aged 18 or over
• a British, Republic of Ireland, or qualifying Commonwealth citizen.

Am I a 'qualifying Commonwealth citizen'?

You are a qualifying Commonwealth citizen for registration purposes if:

• you don't require leave to remain in the UK
• you do require leave to remain in the UK but have been granted such leave or are treated as having been granted such leave. Any type of leave to remain is acceptable, whether indefinite, time-limited or conditional.

Voting arrangements for special category electors

A British citizen living abroad might be entitled to register as an overseas elector for UK Parliamentary General Elections and European Parliamentary Elections only if they are:

• Crown servants and British Council employees outside the UK, together with their husband, wife or civil partner are entitled to register to vote and will have to submit an application form and declaration
• serving members of His Majesty's Armed Forces and their husband, wife or civil partners have to make a declaration to register to vote as a service voter or they can register as an ordinary elector instead. They have the right to register to vote from a UK address while serving overseas.

Special category electors can vote in person at their polling station or vote by post. However, we recommend voting by proxy because of their circumstances.

Find more information about overseas electors, Crown servants/British Council employees, and HM Armed Forces service voters from the 'About my vote' website.

Contact us to register to vote if you are in one of these categories.

How will I know an election is taking place and where I can vote?

We will send you a polling card before an election takes place if you are entitled to vote in it. This will tell you the date of the election, your local polling station and polling hours (7am to 10pm).

You don’t have to take your polling card to the polling station when you go to vote. If you don’t have your polling card, the polling clerks will ask for your name and address so they can check you are on the electoral register before they give you your ballot paper.

If you have applied to vote by post or vote by proxy, we will send you a postal vote pack or proxy polling card before the election takes place. 

Contact us no later than four working days before the election if you don’t receive your postal vote pack or proxy polling card.

Do I have to go to a polling station to vote?

If you don’t want to go to a polling station to vote, you can apply to vote by post or vote by proxy.

What happens when the election day ends?

Ballot papers are counted - usually through the night or during the next day.

Once the count is verified and announced by the Derby Returning Officer, we post the election results and put notices outside Council offices.

Any questions?

If you have a question or comment regarding elections and voting please complete the Elections and voting form.