Ashfield District Council: Electoral Registration

Electoral Registration

A new Register of Electors is compiled each year

On 1 December each year, two electoral registers are published, the Full Register and the Edited Register. These registers are used for different purposes.

The Full Register

lists the name and address of everyone who is registered to vote. Anyone can look at this register, but only under supervision. The main use of the full register is to show who can vote in elections and referendums. Certain persons and organisations are supplied with copies of the full register, such as credit reference agencies, government departments and political parties, but they can only use it for specific purposes, for example, to check your details if you apply for credit. The full register can also be used for law enforcement.

The Edited Register

can be bought by anyone and used for any purpose, such as mail shots. If you do not want your name to be on this register you should make sure you tick the box on your registration form. This register is not updated during the year but you will have the opportunity at the annual canvass to change your choice for the following year.

Students

Students can register at both their term time address and at their home address. They should bear in mind that it is an offence to vote twice in the same elections.

We recommend students to remain registered at their home address while they are in college or university. Students get to move often, so this means they will always get to vote.

Service voters and crown servants

If you are a member of the armed forces, or the spouse of a service person, you can register either as an ordinary elector at your home address, using the monthly application form or the annual canvass form, or, if you do not want to disclose your address on the register, by completing an annual service declaration form.

If you register as an ordinary elector you will have to register each year. If you register as a service voter you will need to complete a new form every five years.

If you are a Crown Servant and or an employee of the British Council you can apply to be registered in a similar way. You can obtain a special form from Electoral Services. This form will have to be completed each year.

Moving to live overseas

If you move to live abroad, you can keep your right to vote at UK Parliamentary elections and European Parliamentary election for fifteen years, subject to your submitting an annual overseas elector application.

You will be entitled to register at your last UK registration address, or, if you were too young to register when you moved, at the last UK registration address of your parents or guardians. The application form allows you to vote by post or proxy.

Please note if you apply to vote by post the ballot papers may only have eight days to get to you and back to this office by 10pm on election day.

It is a legal requirement to 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. If your name is not on the Register of Electors you will not be able to vote. The register is used for many things and if your name does not appear on the register, you may be turned down for a mortgage, bank account, loan, credit card, mobile phone or other form of credit.

Annual Registration

The annual canvass takes place each year between mid-August and the end of October. During this period a form and an explanatory note will be delivered to every property. If the details remain the same in your household you can complete your registration by internet, phone or text, which helps the council save money. If you do this you do not need to complete and return the form. If you don't want to use these methods, you may of course, return your form by post. If there are any changes you must send the amended form back, please make sure it is signed or we will not be able to accept it. Whichever way you register, do it as soon as you get the form, this will save you getting a reminder. If you are likely to move house before 15th October, cross off your names and leave the form for the new occupiers. Make sure you complete a form at your new address. If we have still not had a response by mid-October a canvasser will visit your property.

Rolling Registration

Rolling registration does not take place during the annual canvass. The last day to apply to go on the rolling register is Tuesday 9th August. Rolling registration will recommence in December and is done monthly. If you move house during the year, you can apply to be added to the electoral register at your new address. To do this you must complete a registration form. These can be downloaded from this link or the Electoral Commission website. A form must be completed by each person registering and must be signed.

You can check your details by calling at Ashfield District Council, Council Offices, Urban Road, Kirkby-in-Ashfield during normal office hours.

Fair processing of Data Information

The Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) is required by law to prepare the Council's Register of Electors which is used in Local, Parliamentary and European Elections and Referendums. The ERO may share the information provided to him with Council departments and with other bodies responsible for auditing or administering public funds, in order to prevent or detect fraud. The ERO will only share information when obliged to do so by rule of law or where the law permits.

The Council may carry out a data matching activity to prevent potentially fraudulent claims and payments.

The use of data in a data matching exercise by the Council is carried out with statutory authority under its powers in Section 2 of the Local Government Act 2000. It does not require the consent of the individuals concerned under the Data Protection Act 1998.

For further information contact Electoral Services on 01623 457321 or email regelec@ashfield-dc.gov.uk