Voting as an eligible foreign national, Irish citizen or citizen of a Commonwealth country

Can I vote if I am not a British citizen?

You are eligible to vote in local government (also known as local Council) and Welsh Parliament elections if you are aged 16 or over and are a qualifying foreign national. 

A qualifying foreign national is a person who is not:

• a Commonwealth citizen, or
• a citizen of the Republic of Ireland

and who has or does not require leave to remain or is treated as having leave to enter or remain in the UK.

Eligible foreign nationals aged 14 and over may register to vote in Wales.

If you are still unsure whether you are eligible, visit the Electoral Commission website for full guidance:

https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/running-electoral-registration-wales/eligibility-register-vote/what-are-nationality-requirements-register-vote/can-a-foreign-national-register-vote

I am an Irish citizen or a citizen of a Commonwealth country, which elections can I vote in?

Citizens aged 14 or older from the Republic of Ireland and the Commonwealth are eligible to register to vote in local government and Welsh Parliament elections.

Citizens aged 16 or older from the Republic of Ireland and the Commonwealth are eligible to register to vote in UK Parliament elections.

You must be 18 or older to vote in UK Parliament elections.

Legal incapacity to vote

A person subject to a legal incapacity to vote cannot be included on the register of electors.

If you are not sure whether this applies to you, guidance is available on the Electoral Commission's website here:

https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/running-electoral-registration-wales/eligibility-register-vote/how-does-legal-incapacity-affect-right-register-vote

Source: Electoral Commission

Contacts

• Email: electoral.services@powys.gov.uk
• Phone: 01597 826202
• Address: Electoral Services, Powys County Hall, Spa Road East, Llandrindod Wells, Powys, LD1 5LG

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