About the electoral register

The Electoral Registration Officer keeps two registers - the electoral register and the open register (also known as the edited register).  

The electoral register

The electoral register is the list of everyone who is registered to vote. If you are not on the electoral register, you cannot vote in elections, and you will lose your opportunity to have your say about what goes on in your area. It can also negatively affect your ability to apply for credit. 

If you are eligible to vote, you have a legal obligation to be registered, even if you choose not to vote. The Electoral Registration Officer also has a legal duty to take all the step required to make sure you are registered.

The electoral register is a public document, but only government bodies, credit reference agencies, government bodies, elected members and political parties may use the information in this register for specific purposes.  

The open register

The open register can be bought by anyone, and they may use it for any purpose. 

You can choose to have your details removed (or ‘opt out’) of the open register if you do not want your name and address to be included.

If you would like to opt out of the open register, you can do this online. See ‘Opting out’ of the open register for more information. 

Last updated: 05/07/2023 16:24