Register to vote

The annual electoral register update: August to November

Every year, between August and November, we conduct the 'annual canvass' where a electoral registration form is delivered to every home in Oxford. This is your chance to register to vote.

The form will tell you want you need to do, if anything. If you are required to respond, please do so as soon as you can to help avoid the need for costly reminders and, eventually, personal visits.

Deliveries of the initial forms begin in early September and reminder forms are sent out towards the end of the month.

If no response is received, our canvassers will make personal visits in October and November. These canvassers will use tablet devices to record replies and will always carry a Council-issued ID badge. If you're unsure about a visitor claiming to be a canvasser, please contact us.

The register for 2024 will published on 1 December 2023. A paper copy is available for inspection at the Town Hall.

Registration during the rest of the year: December to July

The electoral register is updated monthly, so you can register to vote at any time of the year.

Register to vote

If you prefer a paper form or don't have internet access, contact us with your name and address, and we'll send you a form.

Check if your name is on the electoral register

Please contact us using the details at the bottom of the page and we will check for you. There is no online access to the electoral register.

Remember to re-register when you move house

Every time you move house, you need to re-register to vote. You can do this on the GOV.UK website. If you prefer a paper form or don't have internet access, contact us with your name and address, and we'll send you a form.

If you've already submitted an annual canvass registration form since moving, you don't need to register again.

If you move during the annual canvass then you should complete the annual canvass forms to reflect your address on 15 October. If you move after completing the annual canvass form, update your details on the GOV.UK website or request a paper form from us.

Why registration matters

You need to be on the electoral register to vote in all UK elections and referendums. You are not automatically registered even if you pay council tax. Not being registered will also affect your credit rating.

Eligibility for Registration

You can register to vote if you are:

• 16 or older (but you can't vote until 18)
• A citizen of Britain, Ireland, the Commonwealth or the European Union residing in the UK

The arrangements for EU citizens registering to vote in the UK will change, but not until after the May 2024 elections.

No fixed residence or in long-term hospital stay?

If you don't have a permanent residence (e.g. you're rough sleeping or sofa surfing) or don't stay in the same place for long periods (e.g. you live on a houseboat), you can make a Declaration of Local Connection.

If you are a long-term resident of a medical hospital, you can register at what have been your usual address if you weren't in hospital.

If you are a long-term in-patient at a mental health institution:

• if your stay is less than six months, you can register at what have been your usual address if you weren't in hospital
• if your stay is longer or if you prefer, you can register a Declaration of Local Connection at the hospital

For more information and registration forms, visit to the Electoral Commission's website.

Student registration

Students can register at both their home and university addresses. However, voting more than once in a national election is an offence. For local elections, voting at both addresses is allowed, provided they're in different local authorities.

For more details, visit the Electoral Commission's student pages.

Registration timeline

Applications received before the middle of the month will appear from the first working day of the following month. Exceptions apply during:

• elections, when different deadlines apply
• the annual canvass (1 September to 30 November), when changes will appear when the new register is published on 1 December

Postal and proxy voting

Learn more about:

• applying for a postal vote
• applying to vote by proxy