How can I register to vote if I am homeless?

A new concept of "notional residence" has been introduced. A declaration may be made at any point in the year, and will be valid for up to 12 months from the date of entry in the register, but may be cancelled at any time by the declarant.

Homeless people may register at the address of a place where they spend a substantial part of their time either during the day or at night (or the address nearest to that place). At a Parliamentary by-election, any declaration delivered during the period "date of vacancy to close of nominations" must include a statement that the declarant has spent a substantial period of time during the previous 3 months at (or near) the address.

Electors registered in this way will be shown under the heading "Other electors" (at the end of the register), if the declaration states an address at which the declarant "has previously resided". Otherwise, where an address is given at which the declarant "is or would be residing but for (the circumstances entitling the declarant to make the declaration)" the elector may be shown at that address.

A declaration must be received by the Electoral Services Office within 3 months of the date the declaration was made, otherwise it is invalid.