You can only vote in elections or referendums if your name is on the register of electors. To be eligible to be included on the register of electors you need to be 18 or older (although you can register to vote when you are 17). You need to be resident at the address for which you are applying and you have to be either a British citizen or a citizen from the following:- the Irish Republic, a Commonwealth country from this list (PDF 3kb), a European Union country from this list (PDF 3kb) or from one of the British Dependant Territories on this list (PDF 3kb).
We update the register every autumn. A Voter Registration form is sent to every household within the borough during August to November, this is known as the Annual Audit Canvass. Names can also be added throughout the year, this is known as Rolling Registration, and the form to be used outside of the Canvass period can be found at the bottom of this page.
Moved home? Coming up to 18? Just not on the Register?
All you have to do is fill in a voter registration form. You have to sign your own form; someone else cannot do it for you.
When you send us your form we will add you to our list of new applications. Any elector can then object to your name being added to the register. If this happens we will write to you.
If your application is not objected to, we will change your details within 7 weeks of receiving your form. We will write to tell you when your application is allowed.
| If we get your form before... |
Your details will be changed on... |
| Monday 13 December 2010 |
Tuesday 4 January 2011 |
| Monday 10 January 2011 |
Tuesday 1 February 2011 |
| Monday 7 February 2011 |
Tuesday 1 March 2011 |
| Thursday 10 March 2011 |
Friday 1 April 2011 |
| Monday 11 April 2011 |
Tuesday 3 May 2011 |
| Tuesday 10 May 2011 |
Wednesday 1 June 2011 |
| Friday 9 June 2011 |
Friday 1 July 2011 |
| Friday 8 July 2011 |
Monday 1 August 2011 |
| Wednesday 10 August 2011 |
Thursday 1 September 2011 |
| There is no monthly update during September, October or November during the annual canvass period when all households have to register. A new register is published on 1 December. |
We will also tell the Electoral Registration Officer for your old address that you have moved so that your name can be removed from that register. People who live at two homes (including students) are allowed to register at both. If you do not want to be removed from your other address please explain why on your form.
There are special rules about names being added to the voters list during an election period. Because of these you may not be able to vote at that election if you are added during this time.
The Two Versions of the Register
The Electoral Registration Officer makes and keeps two versions of the electoral register:
The Full Register
The full register lists everyone who is entitled to vote. You can check it by calling at the Council Offices. Only certain people and organisations can have copies of the full register for example Political Parties, Credit Reference Agencies and the Police. This can then only be used for specified purposes. These include electoral purposes, the prevention and detection of crime and checking your identity when you have applied for credit. 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.871) and can be purchased from The Stationery Office Ltd. The law says who can have a copy of the full register and what they can use it for. It is a criminal offence for them to pass it on to anyone else or to use it for any other purpose.
The Edited Register
The edited register leaves out the names and addresses of people who have asked for them to be excluded from that version of the register (see Part 4 of the form). The edited register can be bought by anyone who asks for a copy and they may use it for any purpose.
Council Tax
Please note that paying Council Tax does not register you to vote. These are two separate departments and you must register with both Council Tax and Electoral Services.
Voter Registration Form
You can only vote in elections if your name is on the register of electors. Please use this form to apply to be added to the register during the months of January to July.
Details provided on this form will be passed to a 3rd party for production of poll cards and postal votes packs.
