Voting is a key value in a democratic society and it is important that all of us have our say in our political representatives.

There are a variety of elections we have to vote in – local elections for your local councillors, mayoral elections to elect the Mayor of Greater Manchester, and general elections to elect your Member of Parliament, and more. Sometimes these elections can take place on the same day and sometimes they are on different days. In 2024, we have Manchester’s local and mayoral elections on Thursday, 2nd May. We also anticipate a general election in 2024 – with a date to be announced by the Government at least six weeks in advance of the election.

If you are not registered to vote or have recently moved, it is important that you update your details. Below I will outline how to register to vote and how to ensure you are registered to vote.

If you are not a British Citizen: Irish Citizens or Citizens of a qualifying Commonwealth or EU country, you may be able to vote. Read more here.

If you are a student: Anyone who splits their time between two addresses is allowed to register to vote at both addresses (so long as they are in different council areas). You can vote in both places for local elections, but in a national election you can only vote in one place (of your choosing). It is important students have their say both locally and nationally!

To register or update your voter registration: To register, you need your personal details, including a national insurance number. You can then register to vote online by clicking this link.

Register to vote by post: Once you are registered to vote (or during the registration process) you can choose to register by post or with a proxy (someone else going to vote on your behalf). This is a simple way to ensure you can vote even if you are busy or unwell on the election day. Register to vote by post here.  You will need your personal details and a photo of your signature, which you will upload to the website.

If you have any issues or questions about registering to vote and you are a Manchester resident, it is best you contact Manchester City Council directly here.