Electoral register explained

What is the electoral register?

The electoral register is a list of the names and addresses of everyone who is registered to vote. There are two versions of the electoral register – the full register and the edited register. Your details will appear on the full register, but you can choose when you fill in a registration form whether or not your details appear on the edited register.

The full register is used for elections, preventing and checking crime and checking applications for credit. The edited register is available for general sale and can be used for commercial activities such as marketing.

Why should I register?

If your name is not on the electoral register, you will not be allowed to vote in a local or parliamentary election or a referendum and you may be refused credit. It is a legal requirement that you register to vote, if you do not respond or if you provide false information you could receive a £1,000 fine.

Who can register ?

You can register if you are a British, Commonwealth or Irish citizen, or if you are from a member state of the European Union:-

Austria	Finland	Lithuania	Republic of Ireland
Belgium	France	Luxembourg	Romania
Bulgaria	Germany	Malta	Slovakia
Cyprus	Greece	The Netherlands	Slovenia
Czech Republic	Hungary	Poland	Spain
Denmark	Italy	Portugal	Sweden
Estonia	Latvia

European Union citizens cannot vote in UK parliamentary elections, however if you are a citizen of the Republic of Ireland, Malta or Cyprus, you are eligible to register to vote at all UK elections.

You should register if you will be 18 years or over at the time the next register is out, the registers are published on 1 December every year and are in force for one year.

If you are 16 or 17 years old you can register and will be able to vote as soon as you are 18.

There are also facilities for the homeless, remand prisoners, mental health patients, overseas electors and service voters to register. Please contact the electoral services office for further information. Contact details are at the end of this page.

How to register?

The law requires that voter registration forms are sent to every household in the city in the autumn usually between August and October of each year. These forms are used to update the register. A new register is published each year on 1 December, and is based on residence at an address on 15 October. When you receive your form you should make sure that the details are correct, amend if necessary and return the form. If there are no changes, you can confirm by telephone, internet or text (SMS) – please see your form for further details. If you have not received an annual canvass form during this time please contact the council.

Between December and August the register is updated monthly. If you have changed address since completing your annual canvass form, or your name does not appear on the register, you can complete a voter registration form to have your name added to the register. Please contact the council for a form.

Can I check that my name is on the register?

You can check your details by telephoning the council on 023 8083 2245 or by calling at the following locations throughout the city where a copy of the register is available for inspection under supervision.

Electoral Services, Civic Centre
Gateway, Civic Centre
Central Library, Civic Centre
Reference Library, Civic Centre
Bitterne Library, Bitterne Road East
Burgess Road Public Library, Burgess Road
Cobbett Road Library, Cobbett Road
Lord’s Hill Public Library, Lord’s Hill District Centre
Portswood Public Library, Portswood Road
Shirley Public Library, Redcar Street
Woolston Public Library, Portsmouth Road

What if my name is not on the register?

You should ask for a registration form from the council and complete and return the form as soon as possible.

What happens if I move house?

You should ask for a voter registration form from the council. Each person in a household will need to complete and return a signed form, your name will then be on the register within about six weeks.