1. Can I vote in the local government election for the Council of the Isles of Scilly on Thursday 1 May 2025?
2. How do I register to vote?
3. What is the deadline for applications to register to vote?
4. How can I check whether I am registered to vote?
5. I’ve not received a poll card (even though others have). What should I do?
6. Can overseas voters vote in the local government election for the Council of the Isles of Scilly on Thursday 1 May 2025?
7. What should I do if I’ve moved house?
8. What should I do if I’ve changed my name?
9. What should I do if I’ve changed my nationality?
10. I’m a student. Can I register to vote at my home address on Scilly as well as at my term-time address on the mainland? If so, can I vote in both locations?
11. I have a second home on the islands. Can I register to vote on Scilly as well as at my mainland address? If so, can I vote in both locations?
12. I’m concerned about my name and address appearing on the electoral register for safety reasons. What can I do?
1. Can I vote in the local government election for the Council of the Isles of Scilly on Thursday 1 May 2025?
To vote in this election, you must:
- be registered to vote at an address in the Isles of Scilly*.
- be 18 years of age or over on 1 May 2025.
- be a British citizen or an Irish citizen, or one of the following:
- a Commonwealth citizen who has permission to enter or stay in the UK (or who does not need permission);
- a citizen of Denmark, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal or Spain who has permission to enter or stay in the UK (or who does not need permission);
- a citizen of another EU country, who has had permission to enter or stay in the UK (or not needed permission) since 31 December 2020 and this has continued without a break.
- not be legally excluded from voting.
You can find out more on the Electoral Commission website.
If you are unsure whether you are eligible to register to vote, please contact the Elections Office and we will be happy to advise.
* This would include members of the armed forces who have registered as service voters and who have given a Scilly address as their UK registration address.
2. How do I register to vote?
You can register to vote online*. It only takes 5 minutes.
If you're unable to register online, you can apply by completing a paper application form and posting or emailing it to the Elections Office. You can download the relevant form here.
If you can’t print the form, please contact the Elections Office and we will be happy to send you a copy in the post.
* If you are a member of the armed forces, you can choose whether to register in the usual way or whether to register as a service voter. Registering as a service voter is particularly useful if you are posted abroad.
3. What is the deadline for applications to register to vote?
In order to take effect for the local government election for the Council of the Isles of Scilly on Thursday 1 May 2025, applications to register to vote must be received before midnight on Friday 11 April 2025.
4. How can I check whether I am registered to vote?
Registered voters who are entitled to vote in the local government election for the Council of the Isles of Scilly on Thursday 1 May 2025 will receive a poll card in the post. The poll cards will be posted on Tuesday 25 March 2025.
You can contact the Elections Office at any time, however, to check whether you are registered to vote.
5. I’ve not received a poll card (even though others have). What should I do?
If you haven’t received a poll card, this could indicate you are not registered to vote. You should either:
- check with the Elections Office whether you are registered to vote; or
- submit an application to register to vote.
So long as you are registered, you don't actually need a poll card in order to vote.
6. Can overseas voters* vote in the local government election for the Council of the Isles of Scilly on Thursday 1 May 2025?
No.
You can register as an overseas voter if you are a British citizen living abroad who has previously lived in the UK. Overseas voters can vote in general elections but not in local government or police and crime commissioner elections.
* This does not include service voters posted abroad. They can vote in this election.
7. What should I do if I’ve moved house?
You need to re-register to vote when you move house.
If you have a postal or proxy vote, you will also need to complete a new postal or proxy voting application.
8. What should I do if I’ve changed my name?
If you’ve changed your name, you can either:
- re-register to vote using your new name; or
- contact the Elections Office so we can send you a change of name form.
If you have a postal or proxy vote, you will also need to complete a new postal or proxy voting application.
9. What should I do if I’ve changed my nationality?
Please contact the Elections Office if you’ve changed your nationality.
10. I’m a student. Can I register to vote at my home address on Scilly as well as at my term-time address on the mainland? If so, can I vote in both locations?
Students are generally entitled to register to vote at both their home address and their term-time address.
If you are registered to vote on Scilly and somewhere else:
• you can vote in both locations for local government elections
• you can vote in both locations for police and crime commissioner elections so long as the other location is not in the Devon and Cornwall police area
• but you must choose to vote in one location or the other in a UK Parliamentary general election.
11. I have a second home on the islands. Can I register to vote on Scilly as well as at my mainland address? If so, can I vote in both locations?
If you split your time between two homes, you may be able to register to vote at both addresses.
If you submit an application, we will ask for additional information to help us determine whether you meet the residency qualification to register to vote on Scilly. Residency in the context of electoral registration is not defined in law but the length of time you spend on the islands each year will be an important factor.
If you are registered to vote on Scilly and somewhere else:
• you can vote in both locations for local government elections
• you can vote in both locations for police and crime commissioner elections so long as the other location is not in the Devon and Cornwall police area
• but you must choose to vote in one location or the other in a UK Parliamentary general election.
12. I’m concerned about my name and address appearing on the electoral register for safety reasons. What can I do?
You can submit an application to register to vote anonymously.