Registered Voter - Project Open Gov

A person whose name appears on the electoral register and who can vote if they meet the relevant rules.

Also used as: registered voters, eligible registered voter, eligible registered voters, voter registration, registered to vote

Source / explainer: Register to vote on GOV.UK

Last reviewed: 21 August 2026

A registered voter is a person whose name appears on the electoral register and who can vote if they meet the relevant eligibility rules for that election. Being eligible is not normally enough on its own: voters usually need to be registered by the relevant deadline before they can vote.

Related terms

Electoral RegisterThe official list of people registered to vote in an area.Electoral Registration OfficerThe official responsible for maintaining the electoral register in a local area.Polling DayThe day on which voters cast their votes in an election.Postal VoteA vote cast by post instead of in person at a polling station.Proxy VoteA voting arrangement where someone votes on behalf of another registered voter.Voter IDThe requirement to show accepted photo identification when voting in person in some UK elections.