The Electoral Register
What is it?
This is a list of everyone who is registered to vote. You must
be on the register to vote at elections. You are not automatically
registered, even if you pay Council Tax.
The Electoral Register is solely based on the information you
supply.
What is it for?
This register contains the names and addresses of every person
who is eligible to vote at elections which may be held in the
following twelve months.
These might be Local Government elections where District
Councillors, Parish Councillors or County Councillors are
elected; Parliamentary elections, where Members of Parliament are
elected; or European Parliamentary elections, where Members of the
European Parliament are elected.
There may also, at certain times, be by-elections or referenda
called. If an individual is not included on the register, then they
will not be able to vote at any of these.
The Electoral Registration Officer makes and keeps two versions
of the Electoral register - the full register and the edited
register.
The full register- lists everyone who is
entitled to vote. Only certain people and organisations can have
copies of the full register, and they can only use it for specified
purposes. These include electoral purposes, the prevention and
detection of crime and checking your identity when you have applied
for credit.
The law states who can have a copy of the full register and what
they can use it for. The full list of such persons and purposes is
given in the Representation of the People (England and Wales)
(Amendment) Regulations 2002 (SI 2002 No. 1871). These regulations
are available at http://www.opsi.gov.uk/stat.htm
or you can buy a copy from the Stationery Office Ltd.
It is a criminal offence for them to pass it on to anyone else
or to use it for any purpose except as allowed by the
regulations.
The edited register - leaves out the name and
addresses of people who have asked for their names to be excluded
from that version of the register. The edited register can be
bought by anyone who asks for a copy and they may use it for any
purpose.
The register is available for inspection at the main council offices in
Margate.
Who needs to be on it?
It is the duty of each householder to complete the registration
form showing each person who is eligible to register and who will
be resident at that property on the relevant date of
15th October. The law requires you to give the
information requested on the form.
People who can register include:
- anyone who is 16 years old or more (they can vote when they
reach the age of 18)
- and is a British citizen, Irish citizen or other
Commonwealth citizen (who are entitled to vote at any
election)
- or a European citizen (who are
entitled to vote at local elections and can vote at European
Parliamentary elections subject to completion of a further
form).
Electoral Registration Officers also ask for 16 and 17 year olds
to be included on the form as it is possible that they will become
18 years old during the life of the next register. If that is the
case then their names will appear on the register showing the date
on which they will attain the age of 18 years. If an election is
called on or after that date then that person will be entitled to
vote.
How do I add or update my information on the the register?
On 1st December, each Local Authority publishes a new
Register of Electors. This list is updated each autumn but names
can be added throughout the year.
To ensure that people are given the opportunity to vote, and to
keep the register as accurate as possible, each year in
August/September the Electoral Registration Officer for each
Council sends a registration form to each household. (see
Annual
Canvass of Electors).
Changes in the law regarding voting have been made to make it
easier for people to register and vote in elections.
This means that if you've recently changed address, or if your
name wasn't included on the electoral register when it was last
published on 1st December, you can now apply to the
Electoral Registration Office to have your details added to the
register.
If you move address or your details change throughout the year
you may apply for an application form to make the change on the
register.
To check that your name has been included on The Electoral
Register or if you require a form to be registered please contact
us on 01843 577500 or request a form by e-mailing
electoral.services@thanet.gov.uk