Autumn Registration
Registering as a Voter during September, October and November (the Annual Canvass)
The Voters’ Register is updated each year during this annual canvass period (September to November) to reflect the details as at the qualifying date of 15 October. A new Register comes into force on 1 December.
At the beginning of September each year the Electoral Services Section employs a team of 60+ to hand deliver the annual electoral registration form to each of the 47,500 households in the Borough.
The law says that every household (whatever the occupier’s nationality or status) has to reply each year but it is each elector’s choice if they wish to vote or not at the time of an election.
What to state on the form?
Every household must complete and sign the form stating:
a) The names of all eligible electors resident on the qualifying date of 15 October (Please see the Eligibilty to Vote page for information on who is eligible to be registered as a voter);
or
b) if no one is eligible to be registered, state the reason why
(e.g. empty property, registered elsewhere or all residents are foreign nationals from a country or countries who are not members of either the European Union or Commonwealth –see the link on the on this page for the countries in these organisations)
You must be included on the registration form if you are:
- Aged 18 and over
- British, Irish, Commonwealth or European Union citizens (use the links on this page to view the countries belonging to each of these organisations)
- 16 / 17 years old (so that you are eligible to vote as soon as you turn 18)
- living at an address in this Borough on 15 October, which is the legal qualifying date
Already registered? – You must still reply
Please do not assume that because your name is preprinted on the form that you will be automatically included in the new Voters’ Register and therefore do not need to reply . There are regulations regarding the removal of names from the Register in the event of a non-response to the annual canvass from a household.
Consequently if you do not reply then even if you are currently registered you may not be included in the new Register.
Council taxpayer
It is important to note that being on the Council Tax Register does not automatically mean that you are on the Voters’ Register. The two registers contain different information.
Tenant or Lodger at the address?
You must include on the form anyone who is resident and eligible to be a voter. The status of the resident e.g. lodger or owner is not important. (Please see the Eligibilty to Vote page for information on who is eligible).
Credit checks and the Voters’ Register
The Voters’ Register is often used to confirm an individual's address, especially if they are applying for credit such as a mortgage, personal loan or even a mobile telephone. If you are not registered you will probably be refused credit as well as losing your right to a vote.
Penalty for not replying or for giving false information
It is important to note that if you do not respond to the annual canvass form, or give false information, you may be liable upon prosecution to a fine of £1,000. You can help the Council to minimise its costs by responding to the registration form as soon as possible and in any case by no later than 17 October.
What would happen if an Election were to be held between 1 September and 30 November?
Please note that in the event of an election during the above period there are special rules about registering new voters in the run-up period to such an election, with the legal deadline for applications for registering to vote being the 11th working day before polling day.
In the event of an election in that period, we will provide details regarding registering new voters, together with the relevant form, on this website.
We will also detail the deadline for postal and proxy applications at such an election.
Registering after 1 December or changing your details
After the Register is published on 1 December, we will have on this website the form to apply to register as a voter or to update your details (e.g. name change after marriage).
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