Avoiding the electoral register

bluenose_ted

Hello


I can't find a suitable board for this question, sorry.


How can I best avoid going on the electoral register? I have so far avoided it by ignoring my local councils letters, but now they are threatening to send someone to visit me. I am not interested in the legalities of the question.


I don't want to vote and never have. There is a downside, of course: I can never apply for credit, but I don't want it. I don't a credit card, store card, etc.


If I am forced to go on it, is it possible to avoid junk mail, being contacted, etc. If the FBI did a search against my name and address, I would want it to come up with 'No results found'!


No, I am not a prisoner on the run; it's a principled issue. The less people who know about me, the more I am in my comfort zone.


Thank you.

DoaM

FBI? Do you think this is a USA website?

There are two (UK) electoral registers ... the main register and the open register. You can opt out of the open register (the one that gets sold to pretty much anyone).

JReacher1

If you refuse to go on it you'll be liable for a fine. It depends whether you are happy to pay that or not.

electic

It's a 'principled issue,' and not an attempt to avoid dealing with the credit card debt you mentioned in a previous post?

Keep_pedalling

Not still hiding from the bank are you?

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4924199

powerful_Rogue

The £1000 fine you'd receive you could put towards the debt you're avoiding.

bluenose_ted

Many thanks to you all for your replies.


I have a payment plan that involves deductions from source, so avoiding that company is not an issue.


I sometimes get calls (landline) which I have not answered for a year asking me to buy oven doors, etc. A human voice but a robot. My parents get a stack of junk post every day because they are subscribed to just about everything and on the register. At the moment, because I have avoided the register, I probably get one letter a month only - that's how I would like to keep it.


I was exaggerating with my reference to the FBI, but I think you know what I mean.


The problem with paying the fine for not being on the register, is that they would probably still insist you go on it. There seems to be an obsession by councils/state about being on it - that's because they want citizens to be traceable. I owe them nothing.


Thank you.

Keep_pedalling

There are two versions of the register, the main one and an open one. Register but opt out of the open register.

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/en/uksi/2013/3198/schedule/3/chapter/2/made

wealdroam

bluenose_ted wrote: »

Many thanks to you all for your replies.


I have a payment plan that involves deductions from source, so avoiding that company is not an issue.


I sometimes get calls (landline) which I have not answered for a year asking me to buy oven doors, etc. A human voice but a robot. My parents get a stack of junk post every day because they are subscribed to just about everything and on the register. At the moment, because I have avoided the register, I probably get one letter a month only - that's how I would like to keep it.


I was exaggerating with my reference to the FBI, but I think you know what I mean.


The problem with paying the fine for not being on the register, is that they would probably still insist you go on it. There seems to be an obsession by councils/state about being on it - that's because they want citizens to be traceable. I owe them nothing.


Thank you.

Unfortunately, in this country we are obliged to keep on the right side of the law. You know, those laws that our elected parliament made on our behalf.

Perhaps you should consider voting and encouraging your MP to to remove the compulsory part of being on the electoral role.

Maybe your best bet is to move to another country where they don't want to keep track of their populace.

Please post back when you have decided what to do.

JReacher1

powerful_Rogue wrote: »

The £1000 fine you'd receive you could put towards the debt you're avoiding.

I thought the fine was just £80. Are you sure it's £1k?

usefulmale

JReacher1 wrote: »

I thought the fine was just £80. Are you sure it's £1k?

It's 'up to £1000' fine. In reality £60 - £100.