Electoral FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions - Electoral

If you are in any doubt about your registration or your right to vote, please contact the ERO where advice and guidance is available.
Some questions arise more often than others do, and these have been replicated here, as they may hopefully satisfy your enquiry.

If you live in the Lothian Area, you can check by telephoning the Electoral Registration Office’s general enquiry helpline on 0131 344-2500.

Alternatively, the Register is on Public Display at the following locations:

  • Electoral Registration Office – 17a South Gyle Crescent, Edinburgh EH12 9FL

  • Council Libraries – hold the register(s) for the area they serve. (Links are provided at the bottom of the main Electoral Page)

  • National Library for Scotland, Edinburgh – holds the register for all of Lothian.

The main criteria be registered to vote are:-

Residence

The application should be for the address at which you currently reside, that being your usual and permanent place of residence and not a temporary residence such as a holiday home or second home used very much as a subsidiary residence.

Age

In Scotland, you can register to vote when you are 14. You can vote in local and Scottish Parliamentary election when you are 16. The voting age for UK Parliamentary (Westminster) elections is 18.

Nationality

Persons eligible to be registered are:

  • British Citizens
  • Commonwealth Citizens who has leave to remain in the UK or who do not require such leave
  • Citizens of The Republic Of Ireland

The citizens listed above have, subject to any other statutory restriction, full voting rights at all types of elections and referendums.

  • Citizens of Other European Union Countries
  • Qualifying Foreign Citizens
    • A citizen that has leave to remain in the UK or who does not require such leave

These citizens are entitled to vote at Scottish Parliamentary and Local Government Elections only, although they may be included in National Referendums depending on the relevant franchise restrictions for the event.

Qualifying foreign citizens are not eligible to vote in UK Parliamentary Elections.

Further information is available at https://www.yourvotematters.co.uk/can-i-vote/who-can-register-to-vote

The easiest way is by going on line at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote  or you may prefer to telephone 0131 344 2500 where a member of our Customer Support Team will be able to assist you.

Frequently Asked Questions - Electoral

If you are in any doubt about your registration or your right to vote, please contact the ERO where advice and guidance is available.
Some questions arise more often than others do, and these have been replicated here, as they may hopefully satisfy your enquiry.

If you live in the Lothian Area, you can check by telephoning the Electoral Registration Office’s general enquiry helpline on (0131) 344-2500.

Alternatively, the Register is on Public Display at the following locations:

  • Electoral Registration Office – 17a South Gyle Crescent, Edinburgh EH12 9FL

  • Council Libraries – hold the register(s) for the area they serve. (Links are provided at the bottom of the main Electoral Page)

  • National Library for Scotland, Edinburgh – holds the register for all of Lothian.

The main criteria be registered to vote are:-

Residence

The application should be for the address at which you currently reside, that being your usual and permanent place of residence and not a temporary residence such as a holiday home or second home used very much as a subsidiary residence.

Age

In Scotland, you can register to vote when you are 14. You can vote in local and Scottish Parliamentary election when you are 16. The voting age for UK Parliamentary (Westminster) elections is 18.

Nationality

Persons eligible to be registered are:

  • British Citizens
  • Commonwealth Citizens who has leave to remain in the UK or who do not require such leave
  • Citizens of The Republic Of Ireland

(The citizens listed above have, subject to any other statutory restriction, full voting rights at all types of elections and referendums).

  • Citizens of Other European Union Countries

These citizens are entitled to vote at Scottish Parliamentary and Local Government Elections only, although they may be included in National Referendums depending on the relevant franchise restrictions for the event.

EU citizens are not eligible to vote in UK Parliamentary Elections.

Further information is available at https://www.yourvotematters.co.uk/can-i-vote/who-can-register-to-vote

The easiest way is by going on line at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote  or you may prefer to telephone (0131) 344 2500 where a member of our Customer Support Team will be able to assist you.

The ERO is obliged by law, to register all persons who are eligible, in order that they may vote in the event of an Election or Referendum. The Register is a public document and as such, can be inspected by anyone, including credit reference agencies. Such companies are entitled by law to use the full register for credit purposes. Their procedures concerning the granting of credit may not match the criteria for registration as an Elector.

If you do not appear on the Register, it could be for a variety of legitimate reasons. If in doubt, contact the ERO and we will check for you.

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