Question about Electoral Roll/Register

Baconroll

My GF and I live together in a rented house as we couldn't quite get a house of our own this time last year. We're hoping not to be there much longer (our 1 year agreement is done and now on a rolling monthly contract).

In an effort to keep our credit ratings in the best shape we could for when it came to mortgages, we decided to keep all our details at our previous addresses (both are family owned and we regularly go to them) so it didn't show us moving about too much.

We just had a knock on the door about the electoral roll/register and saying that we need to fill in our details for our address (the rental place).

As we're both registered at our previous addresses, what options do we have with this? Will putting our names down impact our credit "score"? Can we just say we're already registered at different addresses? Are we breaking the law or anything by not putting our details down?

Given that we're looking to move as soon as we can, we'd rather not have to make a change to show us at the rental place and then almost immediately make another change when we buy our own place.

Any advice would be appreciated.

tommytynan123

Baconroll wrote: »

My GF and I live together in a rented house as we couldn't quite get a house of our own this time last year. We're hoping not to be there much longer (our 1 year agreement is done and now on a rolling monthly contract).

In an effort to keep our credit ratings in the best shape we could for when it came to mortgages, we decided to keep all our details at our previous addresses (both are family owned and we regularly go to them) so it didn't show us moving about too much.

We just had a knock on the door about the electoral roll/register and saying that we need to fill in our details for our address (the rental place).
As we're both registered at our previous addresses, what options do we have with this? Will putting our names down impact our credit "score"? Can we just say we're already registered at different addresses? Are we breaking the law or anything by not putting our details down?

Given that we're looking to move as soon as we can, we'd rather not have to make a change to show us at the rental place and then almost immediately make another change when we buy our own place.

Any advice would be appreciated.

I'mdoing the electoral roll canvass for half of Cornwall (seems like it) and:

We just had a knock on the door about the electoral roll/register and saying that we need to fill in our details for our address (the rental place).
As we're both registered at our previous addresses, what options do we have with this? Will putting our names down impact our credit "score"? Can we just say we're already registered at different addresses? Are we breaking the law or anything by not putting our details down?
The law states that you must complete a form for your present address if it is your main residence. Failure to do so = £1000 fine but I have never heard of a council prosecuting.
The canvasser only needs one signature on a form even for 10 people at that address and if you are on the list at other addresses then you will remain there UNLESS someone at that address takes you off OR doesn't send the return in..
CRAs are allowed to use the full register for credit check help so ensure you are on the register at the address you intend using for applications.
If the canvasser appears again just say you are on the roll at another address which is deemed your main residence (over half time) - they won't and can't check as thats not there job.
Main thing to reiterate is check you are on the full register at the address you are using for applications.

Happy.
Any advice would be appreciated.[/QUOTE]

Buzby

You have a vote elsewhere, so complete the return, staying that there is no valid voters at this address. yYour signature on the return ensures your compliance with the Act.

It really isn't a big deal - but would be if you voted and were registered twice.

tommytynan123

Buzby wrote: »

You have a vote elsewhere, so complete the return, staying that there is no valid voters at this address. yYour signature on the return ensures your compliance with the Act.

It really isn't a big deal - but would be if you voted and were registered twice.

I would say, as an election roll canvasser, DO NOT complete the form with anything or sign it. Use my ''main residence'' route but do check you are on the full register at the addresses you are using for applications. 2 forms even blank etc could cause confusion and you don't want that.

You are not breaking the law (act) if you are on the list elsewhere. All the canvasser will do is mark the form as ''second home'' ie not main residence and send it back - finish. Doing Cornwall I get loads of 2nd homes.

sundevil_rachael

tommytynan123 wrote: »

I would say, as an election roll canvasser, DO NOT complete the form with anything or sign it. Use my ''main residence'' route but do check you are on the full register at the addresses you are using for applications. 2 forms even blank etc could cause confusion and you don't want that.

You are not breaking the law (act) if you are on the list elsewhere. All the canvasser will do is mark the form as ''second home'' ie not main residence and send it back - finish. Doing Cornwall I get loads of 2nd homes.

As another canvasser I have to disagree! Unless the law is different between Scotland and England ( I am in Scotland) then we are always instructed to have a return for every house with a signature. Should it be a student house where they are all registered some where else, a house full of non eligible foreigners or a second home, the signature is necessary. Given that signatures are barely legible with anyone and no other details are taken other than a tick box I am unsure how you think this could cause confusion?

Similarly unlike previously where no return meant the voters roll continued at an address, this is no longer the case. If there is no return then there is no one registered at that address, so the op needs to ensure someone has did their return at their old addresses and included them.

It might be different in England but I would have thought not :cool:

tommytynan123

sundevil_rachael wrote: »

As another canvasser I have to disagree! Unless the law is different between Scotland and England ( I am in Scotland) then we are always instructed to have a return for every house with a signature. Should it be a student house where they are all registered some where else, a house full of non eligible foreigners or a second home, the signature is necessary. Given that signatures are barely legible with anyone and no other details are taken other than a tick box I am unsure how you think this could cause confusion?

Similarly unlike previously where no return meant the voters roll continued at an address, this is no longer the case. If there is no return then there is no one registered at that address, so the op needs to ensure someone has did their return at their old addresses and included them.

It might be different in England but I would have thought not :cool:

I can see what you are saying but, like me, you must have met some people who are holiday makers in a holiday home and some who just will not sign on the doorstep. I end up leaving them the form and envelope and annotating my register accordingly. Thats my job done. I'm answering for a couple who are about to apply for a mortgage so if there is 1% chance then don't do it.
PS I've met some interesting people though and my 'parish' includes the ''over £1 million'' homes - different world espiecially when they say its their holiday home :eek:

sundevil_rachael

tommytynan123 wrote: »

I can see what you are saying but, like me, you must have met some people who are holiday makers in a holiday home and some who just will not sign on the doorstep. I end up leaving them the form and envelope and annotating my register accordingly. Thats my job done. I'm answering for a couple who are about to apply for a mortgage so if there is 1% chance then don't do it.
PS I've met some interesting people though and my 'parish' includes the ''over £1 million'' homes - different world espiecially when they say its their holiday home :eek:

I get to cover council estates - no holiday homes there!:rotfl:

Just students in ex council houses, some suspicious foreigners (them of me) and a lot of poor white people who were over joyed to be asked to vote! Seriously it was heart breaking, they actually wanted to feel included!

On a cheerier note your right it won't get chased up. We did the census too and not convinced that was chased up never mind a voters form!

tommytynan123

For the OP - read Q2 (and the rest)

http://www.experian.co.uk/consumer/questions/electoral-roll.html

tommytynan123

sundevil_rachael wrote: »

I get to cover council estates - no holiday homes there!:rotfl:

Just students in ex council houses, some suspicious foreigners (them of me) and a lot of poor white people who were over joyed to be asked to vote! Seriously it was heart breaking, they actually wanted to feel included!

On a cheerier note your right it won't get chased up. We did the census too and not convinced that was chased up never mind a voters form!

At the training brief the trainer mentioned the personal attack alarm that we are given lol. It was all to serious so I asked her ''do we hand that to the resident before asking them to sign'' - not even a blink of humour - personal attack- I'm 5' 10'' and 16 stone and carry a baseball bat lol.

Baconroll

Thanks for all the info, people.

We've got a copy of the form and I'll take a look when I get home.