Electoral Commission statement on the UK Parliamentary General Election scheduled for 8 June

20 Apr 2017 11:33 AM

Following the House of Commons’ decision to hold a UK Parliamentary General Election on Thursday 8 June 2017, Claire Bassett, Chief Executive at the Electoral Commission, said: “I am confident that the electoral community is ready to deliver a poll that is well-run and commands the confidence of voters across the UK.

“Our updated guidance for candidates, political parties and non-party campaigners will be on our website tomorrow to help them comply with all the rules at this election.

“The deadline to register to vote is in just a few weeks. Anyone not yet registered should apply at www.gov.uk/registertovote. It only takes a few minutes to complete the application.”

Important dates for voters

• The deadline to register to vote is Monday 22 May. Anyone who is not yet registered to vote should apply now at www.gov.uk/registertovote. Anyone who was registered to vote at the EU Referendum; or has registered to vote at local elections in May does not need to re-register in order to take part in the 2017 General Election.
• The deadline to apply for a postal vote is 5pm, Tuesday 23 May.
• The deadline to apply for a proxy vote, where a voter nominates a trusted person to cast a vote on their behalf, is 5pm, Wednesday 31 May.
• Voters in Northern Ireland must download a form to apply to register to vote by visiting the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland website here: http://www.eoni.org.uk/
• British citizens living overseas and who have been registered to vote in the UK in the past 15 years are eligible to vote at this election. Anyone not yet registered should apply now at www.gov.uk/registertovote
• Electoral Commission advice for British citizens living overseas who are not sure whether there is enough time for a postal vote to be sent to them and returned to the UK by polling day, is that they should apply for a proxy vote.
• On polling day, Thursday 8 June, polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm.
• Information about voting at this election is available at www.yourvotematters.co.uk

For further information contact:

Electoral Commission press office on 020 7271 0704 or press@electoralcommission.org.uk

Out of office hours 07789 920 414

Notes to editors

1. The Electoral Commission is the independent body which oversees elections and regulates political finance in the UK. We work to promote public confidence in the democratic process and ensure its integrity by:

• enabling the delivery of free and fair elections and referendums, focusing on the needs of electors and addressing the changing environment to ensure every vote remains secure and accessible
• regulating political finance – taking proactive steps to increase transparency, ensure compliance and pursue breaches
• using our expertise to make and advocate for changes to our democracy, aiming to improve fairness, transparency and efficiency

The Commission was set up in 2000 and reports to the UK and Scottish Parliaments.