Registering to vote

[Billy_Sugger]

I've just had Final Reminder to register to vote . Is is illegal for me to ignore this ? As this is what I want to do

[marval]

Not as far as I know

[Cheeris]

I don't think its illegal to not register. I could be wrong but a quick look www.aboutmyvote.co.uk seems to suggest that it it not compulsory.

Why would you not want to, though?

[Billy_Sugger]

Don't want to be found

[craft1948]

are you council tax dodging billy?

[ummmm]

I always thought it was illegal. Doesn't mean you have to vote though.

[jake-the-peg]

Yes you do have to register.

In practice (if your area is like mine) after a while a rather stern middle aged woman turns up at your door and demands your details whilst scowling at you and tells you how important it is to do these things

er.... apparently

but they can prosecute you - it is an offence not to register with a fine of up to £1000

http://www.stratford....uncil/council-404.cfm

[Billy_Sugger]

Thanks ,not dodging poll tax at all , just thought in a democracy (Ha!) you would have a choice . Seems not

[Hazel104]

I'm sure I remember an opt out box as well so you can not be 'found'

[ummmm]

There is an opt out option.

[dzug]

It's illegal not to register or to provide false information (eg claiming to be foreign)

In practice many councils will not bother to follow it up if you don't, particularly if you are polite to and avoid a punch up with whoever comes to remind you.

And they are not above finding out who you are from a neighbour and registering you anyway.

[jake-the-peg]

You can go on the shorter roll that is not available to the general public.

And you have the right not to vote - you just don't have the right to hide

[mollykins]

yeah but unless you're an aristcratic man, people ahve died in the past to allow people like you to vote, don't waste their suffering!

[jake-the-peg]

I always suggest if you don't want to vote for any of them go down and spoil your ballot - too many spoilt ballots sends a strong message.

Maybe write "Hello Mr Returning officer" on it - they have to inspect spoilt ballots so it brightens their evening

[ABerrant]

Since there is no differentiation between accidental and deliberate spoiling of voting papers it sends no message to do so other than that of the electorate being incapable of following voting instructions. Not until there is a "None of the above" section will any message be received by the poloitical classes.

[mollykins]

tuche lucy

[jake-the-peg]

As far as you're aware?

did it occur to you to look it up ?

Or check the link that I provided where it says:

It is a criminal offence not to complete and return the annual registration form, or to provide inaccurate or false information; liable to a fine up to £1,000.

[ABerrant]

...as per the various Representation of the People Acts.

[Buenchico]

Your question has been answered. Just a few thoughts and observations:

1. If you 'don't want to be found', ensure that you mark the box which excludes your name from the 'edited' electoral roll. That's the version of the electoral roll that organisations like 192.com can buy, as can firms which send out junk mail (and anyone else that can afford the mega-bucks it costs to purchase). Electronic versions of the 'full' electoral roll (either online or on CD) are only available to official bodies, such as the police, security services and credit reference agencies. The general public can only view the printed version, which is arranged in street order (rather than alphabetically by name), and so is extremely difficult to search.

2. If you're not on the electoral roll you'll almost have any type of credit application refused.

3. If you're not on the electoral roll, and you're questioned in the street by police about an incident, you might have to be taken to a police station until your name and address can be verified.

4. You've posted about having rights within a democracy. There can be no true democracy unless everyone has the right to vote. So it seems odd that you're determined to give up that right but still want 'democratric rights'. (In many countries the law requires that all citizens must actually vote in all elections, rather than just register to be able to do so).

5. If you don't vote I assume that you never complain about your local council, central government or the EU. Politicians only get into (or out of) office because people use their votes to put them there (or to remove them).

Chris