Register to vote
選民登記

This page is about how to register to vote in the UK. Information provided in this page is for reference only and shall never be regarded as a professional or legal advice. You must consult your lawyer to obtain professional legal advice in order to protect your maximum interest.
呢頁係關於點樣喺英國登記做選民。本頁資訊謹供參考，並不應視之為專業或法律意見，你應該諮詢你嘅律師以取得專業法律意見，以保障你最大嘅權益。

Overviews 概覽

If you are a British Citizen
如果你係英國公民

• You can register to vote when you are aged 16 or above (aged 14 or above in Wales or Scotland), but you can't vote until you are 18 years old (16 years old for some elections if you are in Wales or Scotland).
  16歲或以上就可以登記（威爾斯及蘇格蘭則為14歲或以上），但要到 18歲嗰陣先可以投票（威爾斯及蘇格蘭部份選舉則為16歲或以上）。

If you hold a passport of British National (Overseas), British Overseas Territories Citizen Passport or British Overseas Citizen Passport
如果你持有英國國民（海外）護照、英國海外領土公民護照或英國海外公民護照

• You have a permission to enter or stay in the UK (i.e. a BN(O) visa), or you does not need a permission.
  你有許可進入或逗留喺英國（例如持有 BN(O) 簽證），或你並不需要有關許可。

• You can register to vote when you are aged 16 or above (aged 14 or above in Wales or Scotland), but you can't vote until you are 18 years old (16 years old for some elections if you are in Wales or Scotland).
  16歲或以上就可以登記（威爾斯及蘇格蘭則為14歲或以上），但要到 18歲嗰陣先可以投票（威爾斯及蘇格蘭部份選舉則為16歲或以上）。

If you are an EU Citizen (for example, you hold a Portuguese Passport because you are also a Macau Citizen )
如果你係歐盟公民（例如因為澳門人身分而擁有葡萄牙護照）

• You can register to vote when you are aged 16 or above (aged 14 or above in Wales or Scotland), but you can't vote until you are 18 years old (16 years old for some elections if you are in Wales or Scotland).
  16歲或以上就可以登記（威爾斯及蘇格蘭則為14歲或以上），但要到 18歲嗰陣先可以投票（威爾斯及蘇格蘭部份選舉則為16歲或以上）。

If you hold only a Hong Kong SAR Passport
如果你只持有香港特區護照

• You are not eligible for voter registration in the UK.
  你並唔合資格喺英國登記做選民

If I am an eligible voter in the UK, what kinds of election can I participate in when I live in Trafford?
如果我係英國選民，我住喺 Trafford 可以參與咩選舉呢？

• General elections for Members of Parliament for your constituency in the House of Commons.
  （英格蘭）國會選舉，選出你國會下議院 (House of Commons)  選區 (Constituency) 嘅國會議員 (Member of Parliament，簡稱 MP)。

• Local authority elections for councillors for your ward.
  區議會選舉，選出你個區議會分區 (Ward) 嘅區議員 (Councillor)。

• Greater Manchester Mayor Election
  大曼徹斯特市長選舉

• Referendums
  英國公投

If I don't my NI number at the moment, can I still register to vote?
我暫時仲未有 NI 號碼，我仍然可以登記嗎？

• You can still register to vote without your NI number, but you need to explain why you don't have it. For example, you are still applying for it.
  就算你暫時未有 NI 號碼，你仍然可以登記，但你要解釋點解你未有，例如：仍在申請當中。

If I don't why my name and address appearing on the electoral register for safety reasons, what should I do?
我唔想自己嘅姓名同地址出現喺選民登記冊上，應該要點做？

• You can register to vote anonymously.
  你可以匿名登記。

If I would like to change my name/address/nationality or get on/off  the open register on the registry, what should I do?
我想改自己喺選民登記冊上面嘅名/地址/國藉，或者寫入或刪除公開名冊上面自己個名，應該要點做？

• You can use the 'register to vote' service on gov.uk to change such information.
  你可以用返 gov.uk 上面「register to vote」呢個服務去做相關嘅改動。

Identity document(s) 身分證明文件

Trafford Hongkongers CIC notice that some newcomers may misunderstand that one's National Insurance number (NI number) is a necessary information which they need to provide during the voter registration.

However, according to the UK legislations (note), a NI number is just an example document for proving the name and date of birth of applicant and their eligibility. Even if you read the description on GOV.UK, it is clearly stated that "You’ll be asked for your National Insurance number (but you can still register if you do not have one)".

We have inquired the Trafford Council regarding this issue. We have been given to know that, in case you cannot provide the Trafford Council with your NI number, you may provide other supporting documents for voter registration, such as documents regarding council tax, a passport,  a UK driving licence, or other three pieces of documents which can prove that you are living in a property which you claim where you are living in for the purpose of voter registration.

Note: Please refer to Section 2(3) of Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013, and Section (5) of Paragraph 3ZA of Schedule 2 of Representation of the People Act 1983.

Trafford Hongkongers CIC 留意到有新嚟嘅朋友仔，誤會咗以為一定要提供到 NI number 畀 Trafford Council，先至可以登記成為選民。

但係，根據英國法例（註），NI number 只係其中一樣文件去證明申請人嘅姓名、出生日期以及有關資格。就算睇埋 GOV.UK 上面嘅描述，亦已經清楚寫明就算冇 NI number 都仍然可以登記做選民。

就住呢個問題，我哋都問過 Trafford Council。我哋所得到嘅答案係，如果你冇辦法提供 NI number 畀 Trafford Council，你可以提供其他證明文件，例如同 council tax 有關嘅文件、護照、英國駕駛執照或者其他三份可以證明到你所申報做住址嘅文件，作選民登記用。

註：呢度可以參考 Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013 第2(3)條，以及 Representation of the People Act 1983 附表2 第 3ZA 段第 5 條。

Accepted forms of photo ID 會被接納嘅相片證明

自 2023 年起，喺英國參與投票拎選票前，須出示自己嘅相片證明。有關咩文件會被接納為相片證明，請參考英國 The Electoral Commission 網站資料：
https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter/voter-id/accepted-forms-photo-id

你亦可以參考英國政府網站了解詳情：
https://www.gov.uk/how-to-vote/photo-id-youll-need

如你未有任何相片證明，你可以向英國政府申領 Voter Authority Certificate:
https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate

Starting from 2023, you need to show your photo ID to election station staff in order to receive your ballot. Please refer to the following website of The Electoral Commission in order to understand which photo IDs are acceptable.
https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter/voter-id/accepted-forms-photo-id

You can also visit GOV.UK to understand more about the detail:
https://www.gov.uk/how-to-vote/photo-id-youll-need

If you do not have any photo ID available, you can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate:
https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate

Useful links 有用連結

References 參考:

• https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

• https://www.gov.uk/elections-in-the-uk

• https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter/register-vote-and-update-your-details#commonwealth

• https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/the_democratic_rights_of_hong_kongers_in_london_england.pdf

• https://secure.manchester.gov.uk/info/362/elections_and_voting/5622/register_to_vote_qualifying_foreign_citizens

• https://www.gov.uk/guidance/welcome-a-guide-for-hong-kong-british-national-overseas-visa-holders-in-the-uk

• https://www.gov.uk/guidance/welcome-a-guide-for-hong-kong-british-national-overseas-visa-holders-in-the-uk.zh-hk