The electoral register and the 'open register'

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1. 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.

2. Opt out of the 'open register'

There are 2 versions of the electoral register - the full version and the 鈥榦pen register鈥� (known as the ).

If you registered to vote anonymously, your details will not appear on either version of the electoral register. You will still be able to vote.

How to opt out of the open register

You can opt out of the open register. This is the version of the register that鈥檚 available to anyone who wants to buy a copy.

To opt out, either:

Opting out does not affect your right to vote.

When you opt out of the open register, your details will still appear on the full version of the electoral register, unless you鈥檙e registered to vote anonymously.

The full version and what it can be used for

Everyone鈥檚 name and address goes on the full version of the electoral register (unless you鈥檙e registered to vote anonymously), and you cannot opt out. This is the version of the register that鈥檚 used for elections and referendums.

The full version of the register can only be used for:

  • electoral administration purposes (such as sending out poll cards before elections)
  • campaigning activities (for example, candidates and political parties sending election communications to voters, surveying opinions or fundraising)
  • preventing and detecting crime
  • checking applications for loans or credit
  • jury summoning in England, Wales and Northern Ireland

You can find out more about the difference between the open register and the electoral register on .

3. View the electoral register

Contact:

They will tell you where you can view the current electoral register (it鈥檚 often available in libraries). The register will list everyone who鈥檚 registered to vote in the local area.

Search historical versions of the electoral register

You can find out about - for example, if you want to research local or family history.