Electoral Registration - The Electoral Register is a list of everyone who is entitled to vote. A revised copy of the register is published on 1st December every year using the details we receive from the annual canvass registration forms.
Annual Canvass - Around September we send out an annual canvass of electors form to every household in the borough. This form will list all the people currently on the register at your address. You should add anyone who should be registered including 16 & 17 year olds and cross-out anyone who is no longer living at your address. You are legally required to return this form, even if there is no one eligible to vote. If there are no changes to the form you can use the internet or freephone options. Canvassers will be going door to door to collect this information if we do not receive a form back.
If you do not receive an annual canvass form by the end of September please call the electoral registration office.
Monthly Rolling Register - There are monthly updates of the Electoral Register between January and September. In order for your registration details to be updated during these months, you must complete and return a voter registration form by each month's deadline. A form can be downloaded using the "Online Services" area below or by contacting the electoral registration office.
There are no monthly updates in September, October or November during the annual canvass.
Full and Edited Register
The choice you have to make
The Full Register - lists everyone who is registered to vote. Only certain people and organisations can have copies of the full register for specified purposes. These include electoral purposes, the prevention and detection of crime and checking your identity when you have applied for credit. It is a criminal offence for them to pass it on to anyone else or use it for any other purpose. You do not have a choice about your name and address being on this register. Anyone can view the register by making an appointment with the electoral registration office.
The Edited Register - can be bought by any person, company or organisation and could be used for different purposes such as checking your identity and commercial activities such as marketing. You can choose not to be on this register by ticking the 'Edited Register' box which must be done every year on the annual canvass form. The edited register will be kept separate from the full register and can be updated every month.
If you chose to tick the box on the voter registration form, your name will only appear on the full register.
If you chose not to tick the box on the voter registration form, your name will also appear on the edited version of the register.
Other categories of electors
If you are a member of Her Majesty's armed forces, a Crown Servant or a British council employee you can apply to be included on the register of electors. Please contact the electoral registration office.
The forms below are available and accessible in a range of formats by request, such as larger font, braille or different languages. Please note, it is an offence to give false information on any of these forms.
