If you're not yet registered to vote, time is running out to sort it so you can have your say in the 4 July general election. 

The good news is, you have until 11.59pm on 18 June - and it only takes five minutes.

Here's everything you need to know about how to register so that you can cast a vote to choose your local MP.

Who can register?

You have to be aged 16 or over - or 14 or over in Scotland and Wales - to register to vote (although you still need to be 18 to vote in the general election).

You must also be one of the following:

• A British citizen
• An Irish or EU citizen living in the UK
• A Commonwealth citizen who has permission to enter or stay in the UK, or who does not need permission
• A citizen of another country living in Scotland or Wales who has permission to enter or stay in the UK, or who does not need permission.

How long do I have?

The deadline to register to vote is 11.59pm on Tuesday 18 June.

Who can vote in parliamentary elections?

Just because you can register to vote, it doesn't necessarily mean you can vote in UK parliamentary elections like the general election.

For example, despite being able to register at younger ages, you can't actually vote unless you're 18 or over on the day of the parliamentary election you're voting in.

Here are the criteria for those votes:

• Be registered to vote in the constituency
• Be either a British citizen, a qualifying Commonwealth citizen or a citizen of the Republic of Ireland
• Cannot be subject to any 'legal incapacity' to vote - prisoners serving a sentence for a conviction cannot vote in UK parliamentary elections and neither can peers in the House of Lords.

The reason some people can register to vote despite not being eligible to have their say in parliamentary decisions is because the rules are more lax for local elections.

For example, members of the House of Lords and EU citizens resident in the UK can vote in local elections if they meet the age and residency requirements, but they cannot in UK parliamentary elections.

Can I vote if I'm a British citizen living abroad?

Yes, you can register online like other British citizens, but you may need your passport details.

You can look at the guidance here.

How can I register?

The easiest and quickest way is to do it online.

Alternatively, you can use a paper form. You can do this by contacting your local Electoral Registration Office and asking them to post a form to you.

Or, you can print your own form off here.

You'll then need to return the completed form to your local Electoral Registration Office.

There are different forms if you live in Northern Ireland.

What information will I need to give?

You'll be asked mainly for simple information such as:

• Where you live (country then later your full address)
• What your nationality is
• Your date of birth
• Your full name
• Whether you live at a second address (you can be registered at two addresses at once - but you can only vote from one of them during an election.

There will also be a few other questions, mainly about how you would like to vote and how the government can contact you if they have any questions about your application.

They'll also ask you if you want to be added to the electoral register.

What is the electoral register?

The electoral register - sometimes referred to as the electoral roll - lists the names and addresses of everyone who's registered to vote.

Your name and address gets put on it automatically when you register to vote. The government uses it for electoral purposes, such as making sure only eligible people can vote.

It can also be used for detecting fraud, calling people for jury service and checking credit applications.

Then there's the 'open register', which is a version of the register that's available to anyone who wants to buy a copy.

Opting out of the open register is easy if you want to - you'll be given the option when registering to vote.

If you're concerned about your name and address appearing on the electoral register for safety reasons, you can register to vote completely anonymously - you'll just have to do so using a different form.

Taking these options will not affect your right to vote.

Do I have to register?

If you're asked to by the government and you are eligible to, then yes you do.

If you're asked to register and do not, you could be fined, unless you have a valid reason for not registering, for example a long stay in hospital, or you have severe learning difficulties.

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