2.3 Where you live

Each part of the UK has slightly different voting rules, especially for local and devolved elections.

In England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, all citizens vote in UK Parliament (general) elections under the same rules. But when it comes to local or devolved elections, like council elections, mayoral votes, or elections for the Scottish Parliament or Senedd, your voting rights depend on where in the UK you live.

For example:

• In Scotland and Wales, people can vote in local and devolved elections from the age of 16 – and a broader range of nationalities are eligible to vote.
• In England and Northern Ireland, you must be 18, and the rules around who can vote differ slightly, especially for EU citizens.

So while some rules apply UK-wide, others are set by the governments of each nation – and those differences really matter.