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class="gem-c-contents-list" aria-label="Pages in this guide" role="navigation" data-module="gem-track-click"> <h2 class="gem-c-contents-list__title"> Contents </h2> <ol class="gem-c-contents-list__list"> <li class="gem-c-contents-list__list-item gem-c-contents-list__list-item--dashed gem-c-contents-list__list-item--active" aria-current="true"> Get on the electoral register </li> <li class="gem-c-contents-list__list-item gem-c-contents-list__list-item--dashed"> <a class="gem-c-contents-list__link govuk-link" data-track-category="contentsClicked" data-track-action="content_item 2" data-track-label="/electoral-register/opt-out-of-the-open-register" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Opt out of the 'open register'"}" href="/web/20220930132045/https://www.gov.uk/electoral-register/opt-out-of-the-open-register">Opt out of the 'open register'</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-contents-list__list-item gem-c-contents-list__list-item--dashed"> <a class="gem-c-contents-list__link govuk-link" data-track-category="contentsClicked" data-track-action="content_item 3" data-track-label="/electoral-register/view-electoral-register" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"View the electoral register"}" href="/web/20220930132045/https://www.gov.uk/electoral-register/view-electoral-register">View the electoral register</a> </li> </ol> </nav> </aside> </div> <div class="govuk-grid-column-two-thirds" id="guide-contents"> <h1 class="part-title"> Get on the electoral register </h1> <div class="gem-c-govspeak govuk-govspeak direction-ltr disable-youtube" data-module="govspeak"> <p>The electoral register (sometimes called the ‘electoral roll’) lists the names and addresses of everyone who’s registered to vote.</p> <p>Use the <a href="/web/20220930132045/https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote">register to vote</a> service to:</p> <ul> <li>get on the electoral register</li> <li>update your details (for example change your name or address)</li> </ul> <p>To check whether you’re already on the register, contact:</p> <ul> <li>your <a href="/web/20220930132045/https://www.gov.uk/contact-electoral-registration-office">local Electoral Registration Office</a> if you live in England, Scotland or Wales</li> <li>the <a rel="external" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20220930132045/http://www.eoni.org.uk/Utility/Contact-Us">Electoral Office for Northern Ireland (<abbr title="Electoral Office for Northern Ireland">EONI</abbr>)</a> if you live in Northern Ireland</li> </ul> <h2 id="what-happens-if-you-do-not-register">What happens if you do not register</h2> <p>You must register to vote if you’re asked to do so and you meet the conditions for registering, for example you’re 16 or over and you’re British or a national of an EU or Commonwealth country.</p> <div role="note" aria-label="Warning" class="application-notice help-notice"> <p>If you’re asked to register and do not, you could be fined.</p> </div> <p>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.</p> <h2 id="when-you-can-register-in-more-than-one-place">When you can register in more than one place</h2> <p>It’s sometimes possible to register at 2 addresses (though you can only vote once in any election).</p> <p>For example, if you’re a student with different home and term-time addresses, you may be able to register at both.</p> <p><a href="/web/20220930132045/https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote">Register to vote</a> twice if you live at 2 addresses.</p> <h2 id="the-annual-canvass">The annual canvass</h2> <p>From July each year Electoral Registration Offices (<abbr title="Electoral Registration Offices">EROs</abbr>) contact households to check if the details on the electoral register are correct. This is called the annual canvass.</p> <p>You will be contacted by post, email, phone or by someone knocking on your door.</p> </div> <nav class="govuk-pagination govuk-pagination--block" role="navigation" aria-label="Pagination"> <div class="govuk-pagination__next"> <a class="govuk-link govuk-pagination__link" href="/web/20220930132045/https://www.gov.uk/electoral-register/opt-out-of-the-open-register" rel="next" data-track-category="contentsClicked" data-track-action="next" data-track-label="/electoral-register/opt-out-of-the-open-register" data-track-dimension="next" data-track-dimension-index="29"> <svg class="govuk-pagination__icon govuk-pagination__icon--next" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" height="13" width="15" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" viewbox="0 0 15 13"> <path d="m8.107-0.0078125-1.4136 1.414 4.2926 4.293h-12.986v2h12.896l-4.1855 3.9766 1.377 1.4492 6.7441-6.4062-6.7246-6.7266z"></path> </svg> <span class="govuk-pagination__link-title">Next</span> <span 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src="/web/20220930132045js_/https://www.gov.uk/assets/static/application-087272cd04e26ba8d2c7c0ccef5db8dcc67495fdae7ef356f838d916abeda4c6.js"></script> <script src="/web/20220930132045js_/https://www.gov.uk/assets/government-frontend/application-3cafadb7a7e2b573dec0a5d24fe813cbcedd7f3ca66281600a699c7a944f8dfd.js"></script><script type="application/ld+json"> { "@context": "http://web.archive.org/web/20220930132045/http://schema.org", "@type": "Article", "mainEntityOfPage": { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "http://web.archive.org/web/20220930132045/https://www.gov.uk/electoral-register" }, "name": "The electoral register and the 'open register'", "datePublished": "2012-01-09T12:15:26.000+00:00", "dateModified": "2015-03-27T14:51:03.000+00:00", "text": "Getting on the electoral register, what happens if you do not register to vote, registering in more than one place, how to opt out of the 'open register', registering anonymously and how to view the electoral register", "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "GOV.UK", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20220930132045/https://www.gov.uk", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20220930132045/https://www.gov.uk/assets/government-frontend/govuk_publishing_components/govuk-logo-73b5a4056ffe9988d02c728b56fe9fe7f90bb822322a5f6183ccbb92a99b019a.png" } }, "image": [ "http://web.archive.org/web/20220930132045/https://www.gov.uk/assets/government-frontend/govuk_publishing_components/govuk-schema-placeholder-1x1-bf9e64d759af6dfd93bede8168f3087a329f405b382aff36747db0db4b7b23e9.png", "http://web.archive.org/web/20220930132045/https://www.gov.uk/assets/government-frontend/govuk_publishing_components/govuk-schema-placeholder-4x3-13093f053c15f613acd827aff27cac83d3fab452947cbcae4c7b706dadf2f7f2.png", "http://web.archive.org/web/20220930132045/https://www.gov.uk/assets/government-frontend/govuk_publishing_components/govuk-schema-placeholder-16x9-4233cd42671827e266e284c4d5ae68fb600bd9f9e35dda663ccabbc2b6ab7ec3.png" ], "author": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Government Digital Service", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20220930132045/https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/government-digital-service" }, "about": [ { "@context": "http://web.archive.org/web/20220930132045/http://schema.org", "@type": "Thing", "sameAs": "http://web.archive.org/web/20220930132045/https://www.gov.uk/government/voting" } ], "headLine": "The electoral register and the 'open register'", "description": "Getting on the electoral register, what happens if you do not register to vote, registering in more than one place, how to opt out of the 'open register', registering anonymously and how to view the electoral register", "articleBody": "\u003cp\u003eThe electoral register (sometimes called the ‘electoral roll’) lists the names and addresses of everyone who’s registered to vote.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eUse the \u003ca href=\"/register-to-vote\"\u003eregister to vote\u003c/a\u003e service to:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eget on the electoral register\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eupdate your details (for example change your name or address)\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTo check whether you’re already on the register, contact:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eyour \u003ca href=\"/contact-electoral-registration-office\"\u003elocal Electoral Registration Office\u003c/a\u003e if you live in England, Scotland or Wales\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003ethe \u003ca rel=\"external\" href=\"http://www.eoni.org.uk/Utility/Contact-Us\"\u003eElectoral Office for Northern Ireland (\u003cabbr title=\"Electoral Office for Northern Ireland\"\u003eEONI\u003c/abbr\u003e)\u003c/a\u003e if you live in Northern Ireland\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"what-happens-if-you-do-not-register\"\u003eWhat happens if you do not register\u003c/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou must register to vote if you’re asked to do so and you meet the conditions for registering, for example you’re 16 or over and you’re British or a national of an EU or Commonwealth country.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cdiv role=\"note\" aria-label=\"Warning\" class=\"application-notice help-notice\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you’re asked to register and do not, you could be fined.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou 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.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"when-you-can-register-in-more-than-one-place\"\u003eWhen you can register in more than one place\u003c/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIt’s sometimes possible to register at 2 addresses (though you can only vote once in any election).\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFor example, if you’re a student with different home and term-time addresses, you may be able to register at both.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"/register-to-vote\"\u003eRegister to vote\u003c/a\u003e twice if you live at 2 addresses.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"the-annual-canvass\"\u003eThe annual canvass\u003c/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFrom July each year Electoral Registration Offices (\u003cabbr title=\"Electoral Registration Offices\"\u003eEROs\u003c/abbr\u003e) contact households to check if the details on the electoral register are correct. This is called the annual canvass.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou will be contacted by post, email, phone or by someone knocking on your door.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n" } </script><script type="application/ld+json"> { "@context": "http://web.archive.org/web/20220930132045/http://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "name": "Home", "@id": "http://web.archive.org/web/20220930132045/https://www.gov.uk/" } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "item": { "name": "Citizenship and living in the UK", "@id": "http://web.archive.org/web/20220930132045/https://www.gov.uk/browse/citizenship" } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "item": { "name": "Voting", "@id": "http://web.archive.org/web/20220930132045/https://www.gov.uk/browse/citizenship/voting" } } ] } </script><script type="application/ld+json"> { "@context": "http://web.archive.org/web/20220930132045/http://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "headline": "The electoral register and the 'open register'", "description": "Getting on the electoral register, what happens if you do not register to vote, registering in more than one place, how to opt out of the 'open register', registering anonymously and how to view the electoral register", "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "GOV.UK", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20220930132045/https://www.gov.uk", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20220930132045/https://www.gov.uk/assets/government-frontend/govuk_publishing_components/govuk-logo-73b5a4056ffe9988d02c728b56fe9fe7f90bb822322a5f6183ccbb92a99b019a.png" } }, "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "Get on the electoral register", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20220930132045/https://www.gov.uk/electoral-register", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20220930132045/https://www.gov.uk/electoral-register", "text": "<p>The electoral register (sometimes called the ‘electoral roll’) lists the names and addresses of everyone who’s registered to vote.</p>\n\n<p>Use the <a href=\"/register-to-vote\">register to vote</a> service to:</p>\n\n<ul>\n <li>get on the electoral register</li>\n <li>update your details (for example change your name or address)</li>\n</ul>\n\n<p>To check whether you’re already on the register, contact:</p>\n\n<ul>\n <li>your <a href=\"/contact-electoral-registration-office\">local Electoral Registration Office</a> if you live in England, Scotland or Wales</li>\n <li>the <a rel=\"external\" href=\"http://www.eoni.org.uk/Utility/Contact-Us\">Electoral Office for Northern Ireland (<abbr title=\"Electoral Office for Northern Ireland\">EONI</abbr>)</a> if you live in Northern Ireland</li>\n</ul>\n\n<h2 id=\"what-happens-if-you-do-not-register\">What happens if you do not register</h2>\n\n<p>You must register to vote if you’re asked to do so and you meet the conditions for registering, for example you’re 16 or over and you’re British or a national of an EU or Commonwealth country.</p>\n\n<div role=\"note\" aria-label=\"Warning\" class=\"application-notice help-notice\">\n<p>If you’re asked to register and do not, you could be fined.</p>\n</div>\n\n<p>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.</p>\n\n<h2 id=\"when-you-can-register-in-more-than-one-place\">When you can register in more than one place</h2>\n\n<p>It’s sometimes possible to register at 2 addresses (though you can only vote once in any election).</p>\n\n<p>For example, if you’re a student with different home and term-time addresses, you may be able to register at both.</p>\n\n<p><a href=\"/register-to-vote\">Register to vote</a> twice if you live at 2 addresses.</p>\n\n<h2 id=\"the-annual-canvass\">The annual canvass</h2>\n\n<p>From July each year Electoral Registration Offices (<abbr title=\"Electoral Registration Offices\">EROs</abbr>) contact households to check if the details on the electoral register are correct. This is called the annual canvass.</p>\n\n<p>You will be contacted by post, email, phone or by someone knocking on your door.</p>\n\n" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Opt out of the 'open register'", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20220930132045/https://www.gov.uk/electoral-register/opt-out-of-the-open-register", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20220930132045/https://www.gov.uk/electoral-register/opt-out-of-the-open-register", "text": "<p>There are 2 versions of the electoral register - the full version and the ‘open register’ (known as the <a rel=\"external\" href=\"http://www.eoni.org.uk/Register-To-Vote/About-the-electoral-register-page\">‘edited register’ in Northern Ireland</a>).</p>\n\n<div role=\"note\" aria-label=\"Information\" class=\"application-notice info-notice\">\n<p>If you <a href=\"https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/register-to-vote-anonymously\">registered to vote anonymously</a> your details will not appear on either version of the electoral register. You will still be able to vote.</p>\n</div>\n\n<h2 id=\"how-to-opt-out-of-the-open-register\">How to opt out of the open register</h2>\n\n<p>You can opt out of the open register. This is the version of the register that’s available to anyone who wants to buy a copy.</p>\n\n<p>To opt out, either:</p>\n\n<ul>\n <li>use the <a href=\"/register-to-vote\">register to vote service</a> (even if you’re already registered)</li>\n <li>contact your <a href=\"/contact-electoral-registration-office\">local Electoral Registration Office</a> if you live in England, Scotland or Wales</li>\n <li>contact the <a rel=\"external\" href=\"http://www.eoni.org.uk/Utility/Contact-Us\">Electoral Office for Northern Ireland (<abbr title=\"Electoral Office for Northern Ireland\">EONI</abbr>)</a> if you live in Northern Ireland</li>\n</ul>\n\n<div role=\"note\" aria-label=\"Information\" class=\"application-notice info-notice\">\n<p>Opting out does not affect your right to vote.</p>\n</div>\n\n<p>When you opt out of the open register, your details will still appear on the full version of the electoral register.</p>\n\n<h2 id=\"the-full-version-and-what-it-can-be-used-for\">The full version and what it can be used for</h2>\n\n<p>Everyone’s name and address goes on the full version of the electoral register, and you cannot opt out. This is the version of the register that’s used for elections and referendums.</p>\n\n<p>The full version of the register can only be used for:</p>\n\n<ul>\n <li>electoral administration purposes (such as sending out poll cards before elections)</li>\n <li>campaigning activities (for example, candidates and political parties sending election communications to voters, surveying opinions or fundraising)</li>\n <li>preventing and detecting crime</li>\n <li>checking applications for loans or credit</li>\n <li>jury summoning in England, Wales and Northern Ireland</li>\n</ul>\n\n<p>You can find out more about the difference between <a rel=\"external\" href=\"https://ico.org.uk/your-data-matters/electoral-register/\">the open register and the electoral register</a>.</p>\n\n" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "View the electoral register", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20220930132045/https://www.gov.uk/electoral-register/view-electoral-register", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20220930132045/https://www.gov.uk/electoral-register/view-electoral-register", "text": "<p>Contact:</p>\n\n<ul>\n <li>your <a href=\"/contact-electoral-registration-office\">local Electoral Registration Office</a> if you live in England, Scotland or Wales</li>\n <li>the <a rel=\"external\" href=\"http://www.eoni.org.uk/Utility/Contact-Us\">Electoral Office for Northern Ireland (EONI)</a> if you live in Northern Ireland</li>\n</ul>\n\n<p>They will tell you where you can view the current electoral register (it’s often available in libraries). The register will list everyone who’s registered to vote in the local area.</p>\n\n<h2 id=\"search-historical-versions-of-the-electoral-register\">Search historical versions of the electoral register</h2>\n\n<p>You can find out about <a rel=\"external\" href=\"http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/looking-for-person/electoral-registration.htm\">historical versions of the electoral register</a> - for example, if you want to research local or family history.</p>\n" } } ] } </script> </body> </html>

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