Elections - electoral register

What is the Register of Electors?

The Register of Electors is the list of people who are eligible to vote. It is compiled and published by the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) in all local authorities each year following the Annual Canvass. This year, for the first time, the revised Register of Electors will be published on Tuesday 16 October 2012 due to the Police and Crime Commissioners (PCC) Elections which will be held on Thursday 15 November 2012.

When is the Annual Electoral Canvass held?

The canvass has been brought forward this year, it commenced on Friday 8 June when approximately 69,000 forms were sent out. Every residential property in the Borough will receive an Annual Canvass form. This includes every house, flat, bed-sit, houseboat and caravan. Homeless persons are also entitled to register. If you have not received a form or you have mislaid it, you should contact us directly.

Please help us cut costs by sending back the first form as soon as possible.

If you have not responded by Monday 16 July 2012 you may receive a visit from a Community Canvasser who will have a reminder form for your property which they will ask you to complete at the door. They are happy to help you complete the form and will answer any questions you have about it. The Community Canvassers will bring the completed forms back to the office saving money on the return postage.

Please note that due to the volume of work involved in publishing the revised Register of Electors by Tuesday 16 October 2012, we cannot guarantee your inclusion unless your details are submitted by Monday 8 October 2012.

It is an offence not to supply the information required, or to give false information. The maximum fine is £1000.

Rolling Registration

The Rolling Register, introduced in February 2001, enables people to register to vote as and when they change address.

The Full and Edited Register?

Since 1 December 2002, the Electoral Registration Officer is required to keep two versions of the 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 e.g. for elections, law enforcement and credit referencing. The full list of such persons and the purposes for which they can use it are given in the Representation of the People (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2002. It is a criminal offence for them to pass it on to anyone else or use it for any other purpose.

The Edited Register leaves out the names and addresses of people who have asked for their details to be excluded from that version of the register. This register can be bought by anyone who asks for a copy and they may use it for any purpose. When registering, electors will be given the choice of whether they want their name and address included in the edited version or not. To 'opt out' of the edited version of the register, electors should tick the appropriate box on the registration form delivered to their property.

Permanent Opt Out of the Edited Register

Electors can choose to opt out of the Edited Register permanently. To do this each elector must advise us by writing to Registration Services, Maidstone House, King Street, Maidstone, Kent ME15 6JQ or by email to registration@maidstone.gov.uk . If your name is on the Edited Register and you choose to opt out permanently your name will be removed the next time the Edited Register is published. If you move house you will have to advise us (or the local authority that covers your new home) of your decision to opt out permanently once again. Electors details are not carried forward from property to property, similarly you have to re-apply for a postal vote when you move house.

What does the Register look like?

The Register is published in address order. The roads are shown in alphabetical order and in each road the names of eligible electors are shown against the house number. It does not give titles such as Mr., Mrs. etc. It does not show telephone numbers or ages, other than those electors who will reach voting age during the lifespan of that Register.

Where can I see the Register?

The Full Register of Electors is available for public inspection, under supervision at the Council Offices, Maidstone House, King Street, Maidstone, Kent ME15 6JQ. There is no charge for this as the Full Register of Electors is a public document.

Extracts from this register may only be recorded by making hand written notes. Photocopying or electronic recording are not permitted by law. Information taken from this register must not be used for commercial purposes, unless the information has been published in the edited version of the register.

Can the Register of Electors be purchased?

The Full Register can only be purchased by those people or organisations set out in legislation and the information can only be used for the purposes specified.

The Edited Register can be purchased from the council by anyone and the information used for any purpose. We require you to either write, phone or visit to let us know which parts of the Edited Register you wish to purchase and we will charge you the appropriate fee.

Neither the Full or the Edited Register are held on-line.

Are there any regulations or legislation for me to read?

Legislation is available and can be accessed by visiting the Electoral Commission website.

Who is entitled to Register?

You are entitled to register if you are able to satisfy the following criteria:

you are a British, Commonwealth or Irish citizen, or a citizen of one of the European Union Member States and you are or will reach the age of 18 during the life of the Register - this means that anyone who is 16 or 17 at the time of the annual canvass should be included on the registration form as they may become 18 whilst the Register is in force.
Also include:
lodgers or people staying at the address who have no other home.
anyone who normally lives at the address but is away temporarily. This includes people in hospital, students, anyone on holiday or working away for less than 6 months.

The annual canvass is based upon circumstances as they stand on 15 October. When completing the registration form during the canvass, it is important that everyone who normally lives at the address who satisfy the above criteria is included. Don't forget to register anyone who is temporarily absent.

Special registration arrangements exist for British citizens resident overseas, patients in mental hospitals, remand prisoners, members and partners of the armed forces, Crown Servants and British Council employees.

What if my name is missing from the Register?

If you cannot find your name on the Register, or if you have recently moved into the borough, you can request an Electoral Registration Form. This asks for details of your full name, your present address, your old address and your nationality. A separate form needs to be completed by each person who must sign his or her own form.

Registration Services will issue a monthly update, called a "List of Alterations". In 2012 it will be published every month except for August, September and October.

When we receive your form, and if everything is in order, your name will be shown in the List of Alterations. Your details will take between two and six weeks to be added to the Register dependent on when your form is received.

You will be sent an acknowledgement from the ERO when you have been added to the Register.

What about Credit Ratings?

The Register of Electors is public information and purchased by Credit Reference Agencies. They then supply details to financial institutions who supply items on credit and/or lend money. If you are not on the Register of Electors and should be, you are likely to experience difficulties in obtaining such services.

Can I Register Twice?

You can register for more than one address. If you are a student studying away from home, at college or university, you can register to vote at both

your home and term-time address.

You can also register for two addresses if you have a second home and live there regularly.

Both students and those with a second home have the right to vote in respect of both addresses at the time of a local election but must choose only one address to vote in respect of when parliamentary elections are held.