Register of Electors

[purpose]

Not sure if this is the right section to post this, but can't find a more suitable one...!

I've just had my Register of Electors delivered (the form you have to fill in/send back to the local council to enable you to vote) and have a query about it.

It says at the top, on the back, "You must by law give the information requested in this form". Now does that mean EVERYONE must fill it in and send it back... a bit like a mini census? What if i didn't want to vote? Would i still have to fill it in?

I have a friend who does not appear as he does not vote - is this legal?

[jake-the-peg]

If your friend is eligable to vote he must be registerred. You must fill it in and you must fill it in accurately. There is a lack of sense of humour about it.

I forgot to return it the other year and got a rather stern faced woman on the door step to "help me fill it in" while she waited and took it with her.

[Oneeyedvic]

Please note that if you do not register to vote you will also not be on 'votres role' and this is the biggest reason that people get turned down for credit.

[purpose]

Thanks, guys.

Yes, my friend IS eligible to vote, but he doesn't actually want to. If he doesn't want to vote and was not afraid to be turned down for credit (of which i know he has a fair bit of credit!), is it actually illegal to not fill it in in the first place (as opposed to giving false info on the form)?

[zmudge]

Every household must by law complete and return the form to the Electoral Registration Officer. The maximum penalty for not returning the form is �1,000.

[mycatis]

I only found out a few months ago that I wasnt on the register when I applied for my passport and no-one seemed bothered, (at the passport office or the electoral place) when I phoned them

[woofgang]

Yes, the law states that you must register whether or not you want to vote. Of course how much notice individual councils take of that is another matter. I think that it is also illegal for councils to use this info for purposes other than to allow people to vote