The electoral register and the 'open register'

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Get on the electoral register

The electoral register (sometimes called the 鈥榚lectoral roll鈥�) lists the names and addresses of everyone who鈥檚 registered to vote.

Use the register to vote service to get on the electoral register.

To update your details (for example change your name or address) you should either:

To check whether you鈥檙e already on the register:

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

The annual canvass

From July each year, electoral registration offices (EROs) contact households to check if the details on the electoral register are correct. They may also tell you to register to vote if you鈥檙e not already registered. This is called the annual canvass.

You will be contacted by post, email, phone or by someone knocking on your door.

There is no annual canvass in Northern Ireland.

What happens if you do not register

You must register to vote if an electoral registration officer asks you to do so and you meet the conditions for registering.

If you鈥檙e asked to register and do not, you could be fined up to 拢1,000.

You will not be fined if you have a valid reason for not registering, for example a long stay in hospital, or you have severe learning difficulties.

When you can register in more than one place

It鈥檚 sometimes possible to register at 2 addresses (though you can only vote once in any election).

For example, if you鈥檙e a student with different home and term-time addresses, you may be able to register at both.

Register to vote twice if you live at 2 addresses.