How to Register for the Electoral Roll in the U.K.
- 1). Check your eligibility. Anyone age 16 or over can register for the electoral roll, although you cannot vote until you are 18. You must be a British or a Republic of Ireland citizen or a qualifying Commonwealth citizen. European Union citizens can vote in local government elections but not in U.K. Parliamentary elections.
- 2). Fill in the Voter Registration form. These are sent automatically to every household in the U.K. between August and November each year. The form lists all the people in the household who are living at that address and are 18 and over. The household needs to check and, if applicable, update the information, sign the form and return it by post to the Electoral Registration Officer. This is a legal necessity. Failure to return the form could result in a £1,000 fine. The information on the Voter Registration Form will be transferred to the electoral register. The updated electoral register is published in December each year.
- 3). Check the Register. Legally your local council has to keep a full and an edited copy of the electoral register. If it is your first time on the electoral register, check that your details have been processed correctly. The partial register is easier to check. It can be purchased from your local authorities Electoral Services Team and lists the people who have consented to be on this register (consent is given by ticking a box on the Voter Registration Form). The full register, listing the names and addresses of everyone who is registered to vote, can be checked at your local town hall. However, you can only view this under supervision and it can only be viewed for a specific purpose such as law enforcement or credit checks. It is not mandatory to check the electoral register and any errors will be revealed when a voting card is sent to you just before an election.
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