What is the Register of Electors?

The electoral register is a list of the names and addresses of everyone who is registered to vote. There are two versions of the electoral register – the full register and the edited register. The full register is used for elections, preventing and detecting crime and checking applications for credit. The edited register is available for general sale and can be used for commercial activities such as marketing.

Your details will appear on the full register but you can choose whether or not your details appear on the edited register.

To be registered you need to fill in a registration form. A registration form is sent to every home each autumn, but you can register to vote at any time. To vote in the 1 May 2008 City Council Elections you must have applied to register by 16 April.

Am I registered to vote?

If you are note sure if you are registered to vote please contact the elections office using the details on this page.

How can I register to vote?

If you are not already registered you can use the electoral registration form which can be downloaded using the following link:

Electoral Registration Form 80kb

Once you have filled in the form, sign it personally and return it to the Elections Office. The address can be found on the left of the form.

Can I register over the phone?

No but you can call the Elections office to check if you are registered or to ask for them to send you a registration form through the post.

Why do I need to register?

You need to be on the register to vote in all UK elections and referendums. You are not automatically registered even if you pay your Council Tax

Who can register to vote?

You can register to vote if you are:

• 16 or over (but you can not vote until you are 18)
• a British, Irish Republic or Commonwealth citizen
• a citizen of a European Union country living in the UK
• a citizen of the Channel Islands or Isle of Man living in the UK

I'm a student and I'm not sure where I should register to vote?

Students are entitled to register at both their home address and their university address. Although it is an offence to vote more than once in a national election, you can vote in local elections at both of your addresses.

I am 16/17. Can I register to vote?

Yes. You can register to vote, but you are not allowed to vote until you are 18. If your 18th birthday is just before an election it is a good idea to register now so that you are able to vote on election day.

When can I register to vote?

Most people register between September and November every year when we deliver a registration form to your home. This is known as the 'annual canvass'. However, you can also register throughout the year as the register is updated every month. This is useful if you move home and need to register at your new address.

Do I register once or every year?

You should register between September and November every year when we deliver a registration form to your home. This is known as the 'annual canvass'.

What do I do if I move home?

If you have filled in and returned an annual canvass registration form since you moved to your new home, you do not need to register again. If you have not, you need to download a registration form and return it to us.

After I register, how do I vote?

View the how to vote webpage.

Why can't I get credit?

If you have been denied credit because your bank or credit reference agency are unable to verify your details on the electoral register, this is because the electoral register is often used for credit referencing purposes to counteract fraud. In this case, you need to contact the elections office for confirmation that you are registered. They will be able to supply you with a letter confirming your details on the electoral register. Sometimes the records maintained by credit reference agencies are incorrect – they should be able to supply you with a copy of your record so that you can check the details.

Will my details appear on the electoral register? Will my details be used for anything else? Will my details be given to other organisations?

There are two versions of the electoral register – the full version and the edited version. The full register is used only for elections, preventing and detecting crime and checking applications for credit. The edited register is available for general sale and can be used for commercial activities such as marketing. Your name and address will appear on the full register but you can choose on your registration form whether to appear on the edited register.

Can I search the electoral register online? Can I use the electoral register to look for a lost relative or friend?

Electoral registration is performed locally by the local electoral registration office for each area and there is currently no official centralised electoral register that can be searched online. It is possible to search the edited register using online commercial organisations, but it is not possible to search the full register in this way, as the full registers are only available to view in hard copy at each local electoral registration office.

Can Crown Servants and British Council employees posted overseas vote?

Crown Servants and British Council employees posted overseas can vote in all elections. You need to download a registration form for Crown servants and British Council employees and send it to the Elections Office if you would be living in Derby if you were not posted overseas. As a Crown Servant or British Council employee, you can choose to vote by post or proxy. Postal votes are only sent out a week before election . You will need to consider whether this gives you enough time to complete and return your form in time. It may be better to appoint a proxy to vote on your behalf.

To download a registration form for Crown Servants and British Council employees posted overseas click on the link below:

Form for Crown Servants and British Council employees  65kb