It’s not legally obligatory to be on the electoral register, but you must be registered at your current address in order to vote in elections like the Scottish Parliament election scheduled for Thursday 7th May 2026. Being on the electoral register can also help with other services like proving residence and identity, including for credit reference, so keeping it up to date is good practice.

1. Annual Canvass

Each year your Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) sends a household form (the “annual canvass”) to check if the register is up to date. You fill it in and return it.

2. Rolling (Year-round) Registration

Scotland operates rolling registration, meaning you can update your details anytime during the year, not just when the household form arrives.

If you move house you should register again at your new address as soon as possible, this replaces your old information on the register and records you at your current address.

You can do this online via the UK government service: “Register to vote” at
 https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote it takes about 5 minutes.

You can also request a paper form from your local electoral registration office and return it by post.

There are two main ways:

Online - is generally the easiest and quickest way is to use the UK government registration service referenced above.

Paper Form - by asking the Highland Electoral Registration Office for a form  fill it in and send it to them. Details can be found via the Highland Council or Scottish Assessors websites.

How Long It Takes to Update

Once your application is received, details are included in the electoral register at the next update date, typically at the start of each month (January–September).

If you submit early in a month, your new address could be on the register by the start of the next month.

Processing can take 2–6 weeks in practice depending on when your application is received and whether any enquiries are needed.

If your registration arrives after a deadline ahead of an election, you may be on the register too late to vote at your new address for that election, although you may still vote at your previous registered address if eligible.

If you’re moving now and want to be able to vote in the 7 May 2026 Scottish Parliament election, you should ensure your new registration is submitted well before the statutory deadline (which is usually around 12 working days before polling day) to count for that election.

The electoral registration office may send you a confirmation letter when your change is accepted.
They will usually notify the electoral registration office in your old area so you’re removed from the register there once you’re active at your new address.

Other Useful Tips

Council Tax notifications are not automatically passed to the ERO. So telling the council about your new address alone doesn’t update your electoral registration. You must register through the process above. If you want to vote by postal or proxy vote, separate applications may be needed; contact your ERO for that option.

Contacts and Resources

You can check or update your registration at any time online: www.gov.uk/register-to-vote
For local questions or paper forms, contact the Highland and Western Isles ERO: details are available on Highland Council sites.

 Summary Checklist

•  Register to vote again as soon as you move house.
• Use online registration if possible (quickest).
• Submission well before election deadlines ensures you can vote where you live.
• Registering your council tax address doesn’t automatically update your electoral registration.