Register to vote

To vote in elections and referendums, your name and address must be on the electoral register. The register is also used to assist in credit checks and not being registered may impact your credit rating.

If you cannot register online and would like to register by phone or receive a paper registration form please call 01256 845467.

It is your responsibility to register on the electoral register, you won't automatically be added even if you pay Council Tax. You can check if you’re already registered to vote by contacting us using the details on this page.

Who can register

You must be:

aged 16 or over; and be one of the following nationalities:

a British citizen
Irish
qualifying EU citizen
a Commonwealth citizen

You do not need to register for every election. Once you have received confirmation you are registered. You will only need to register again if you’ve changed your name, address or nationality or have been removed from the electoral register.

You can vote when you’re 18 or over.

Accessible registration

You can find an easy read guide on how to register to vote on the GOV.UK website

Registering to vote: easy read form

There are resources available and we have listed a few below. Please note these are third party websites and not affiliated with Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council:

For more information about voting in the polling station view our webpage Accessibility at the Polling Station

Types of elections

Find out more about the different types of elections and who can vote in which elections on the GOV.UK website

Overview of types of elections, referendums, and who can vote

Students

Students may register at both their home address and their college or university address. It is an offence to vote more than once in the same election.

British citizens living abroad

British citizens living abroad can vote at UK Parliamentary elections but not local government elections.

If you were registered or resident in the UK at any point and are a British Citizen, your can register to vote.

You will be registered as an Overseas Elector with the council that covers your qualifying address.

For more information on how to register visit the GOV.UK website.

Service personnel and their spouse

If you or your spouse is a member of the armed forces, visit GOV.UK website for more information on how to register.

Crown servants or British council employees

Crown servants or British council employees working outside the UK can still register to vote. The spouse of a crown servant or British council employee accompanying them during their employment abroad can also register under these arrangements.

For more information on how to register visit the GOV.UK website.

No fixed or permanent address

You can register to vote if you don’t have a fixed address. You can register at the address or place where you spend a substantial part of your time either during the day or at night.

For more information, you can download a paper form at Register to vote if you haven't got a fixed or permanent address - paper form - GOV.UK or contact us to collect a form or have one posted to you.

Mental health patients

A person admitted as an in-patient in a mental health hospital or other establishment maintained mainly for the reception and treatment of persons with a mental health problem may be registered at:

the hospital/establishment, if the period they are likely to spend there is sufficient for them to be regarded as resident there
the address at which they would be living if they were not a patient
an address where they used to live before they became a patient

Please contact us for further information on how to register.

A person in a mental health hospital may still be considered resident at their permanent home if their stay in hospital is not long enough for them to be able to be regarded as resident there.

Patients in mental health hospitals who are convicted offenders and are legally incapable of voting are not entitled to be registered.

Remand prisoners

Convicted persons detained in penal institutions are not entitled to be registered because they are legally incapable of voting. However, it is possible that in some limited circumstances, a prisoner may meet the criteria to register to vote.

A person who has been remanded in custody (but is not a convicted prisoner) who is detained in a penal institution or some other place for custodial purposes, may be deemed to be resident there for registration purposes, if the period of detention is sufficient to enable them to be regarded as being resident there.

A remand prisoner may also choose to register by making a declaration of local connection at the address:

at which they would be living if they were not a prisoner on remand
where they used to live before they became a prisoner on remand

A remand prisoner may still be considered resident at their permanent home if their stay at their place of custody is not long enough for them to be able to be regarded as resident there or for them to be able to register through a declaration of local connection.

Care homes

Care home residents have the same right to vote as everyone else. Everyone who is eligible to vote should be registered regardless of any illness or disability they may have.

Care home residents can be given help registering to vote. You can make the declaration of truth on their behalf if you have power of attorney.

If you have a physical disability that means they can't write or type, somebody can do this for you. The resident needs to be present to confirm that the information provided is correct.

For more information, please contact us.

Updating your name or address

You will need to register to vote again if you move to a new address. If you hold a postal vote or long term proxy, you will need to apply for this at your new address, once you have registered.

If you have changed your name and your address remains the same, you will need to provide proof of your name change. Please provide us with:

the name you are currently registered with and current address
Supporting evidence:

such as a marriage or civil partnership certificate
deed poll or amended birth certificate

A scanned copy or clear photograph by email is sufficient or photocopies sent in the post. Where possible, do not send us original documents. We are not responsible for original documents being delayed or lost in the postal service.

You can send this information to the us at electoral.services@basingstoke.gov.uk or contact us on the enquiry form at the bottom of this page for a paper form.

The electoral register and the open register

There are two versions of the register:

electoral register – includes the name and address of everyone registered to vote. This is the register that is used for electoral purposes and limited purposes specified in law such as jury service, credit checks and preventing fraud and crime.
open register – this is an extract of the electoral register but is not used for elections. It can be bought by any person, company or organisation. For example, it is used by businesses and charities to confirm name and address details.

You can request your details be removed from the open register, it does not affect your right to vote - you will still stay on the electoral register.

Political parties are entitled to a full copy of the register and can use the information for campaigning.

Personal data in the register must always be processed in line with data protection legislation.

Who uses the electoral register?

Users of the electoral register include:

Election staff, political parties, candidates and holders of elected office use the register for electoral purposes.
Your local council and the British Library hold copies that anybody may look at under supervision. A copy is also held by:
- the Electoral Commission
- Boundary Commissions (which set constituency boundary for most elections)
- and the Office for National Statistics.
The council can use the register for duties relating to security, enforcing the law and preventing crime. The police and the security services can also use it for law enforcement.
The electoral register is used when calling people for jury service.
Government departments may buy the register from local registration officers and use it to help prevent and detect crime. They can also use it to safeguard national security by checking the background of job applicants and employees.
Credit reference agencies can buy the register. They help other organisations to check the names and addresses of people applying for credit. They also use it to carry out identity checks when trying to prevent and detect money laundering.

It is a criminal offence for anybody to supply or use the register for anything else.

Public inspection of the register of electors

This register is open to public inspection and can be viewed at the Civic Offices, London Road, Basingstoke, RG21 4AH under supervision. It contains the names of all those registered to vote in the Borough of Basingstoke and Deane.
Extracts from this register may only be recorded by making handwritten notes. Photocopying or electronic recording are not permitted by law.
Information taken from the register should not be used for commercial purposes, unless the information has been published in the edited version of the register which is also available for inspection.
Under the Regulations referred to above, anyone who fails to observe these conditions is committing a criminal offence. The penalty is a fine of up to level 5 (currently £5,000).

Contact details

Electoral Services team

If you have an enquiry about electoral services, send a message to the Electoral Services Team