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The electoral register (sometimes called the ‘electoral roll’) lists the names and addresses of everyone who’s 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:

• use the register to vote service if you live in the UK
• contact the electoral registration office that confirmed you are registered as an overseas voter if you live abroad

To check whether you’re already on the register:

• contact your electoral registration office if you live in England, Scotland or Wales
• use the if you live in Northern Ireland

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’re 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.

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’s sometimes possible to register at 2 addresses (though you can only vote once in any election).

For example, if you’re 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.

There are 2 versions of the electoral register - the full version and the ‘open register’ (known as the ).

How to opt out of the open register

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.

To opt out, either:

• use the register to vote service (even if you’re already registered)
• contact your electoral registration office if you live in England, Scotland or Wales
• contact the if you live in Northern Ireland

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

The full version and what it can be used for

Everyone’s name and address goes on the full version of the electoral register (unless you’re registered to vote anonymously), and you cannot opt out. This is the version of the register that’s 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 .

Contact:

• your electoral registration office if you live in England, Scotland or Wales
• the if you live in Northern Ireland
• the electoral registration office that confirmed you are registered as an overseas voter

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.

Search historical versions of the electoral register

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