Electoral Register Visit

Nick_C

Whenever you change address, you should notify the Council responsible for your new address. Even if you are moving within the same Council area, you should let them know so they can update the register, send your polling card or postal vote to your new address, and tell you where your new polling station is.

Electoral Registration used to be done by household on an annual basis. It is now the responsibility of individuals, and is done on a continuous rolling programme. The easiest way to do this is to use the central government website https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote The information will be forwarded to the appropriate local council.

Each year, Councils send out a Household Enquiry Form. It will usually show the people who are currently on the register for that address. Someone in the household should make any corrections - additions or deletions - to the form and return it. If there are no changes, do it on line or using the automated phone service.

bigpappa

Nick_C wrote: »

Whenever you change address, you should notify the Council responsible for your new address. Even if you are moving within the same Council area, you should let them know so they can update the register, send your polling card or postal vote to your new address, and tell you where your new polling station is.

Electoral Registration used to be done by household on an annual basis. It is now the responsibility of individuals, and is done on a continuous rolling programme. The easiest way to do this is to use the central government website https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote The information will be forwarded to the appropriate local council.

Each year, Councils send out a Household Enquiry Form. It will usually show the people who are currently on the register for that address. Someone in the household should make any corrections - additions or deletions - to the form and return it. If there are no changes, do it on line or using the automated phone service.

In future I will do it online. At the moment I am assuming the council has processed my form. Can I not update online if I have the details from form? Or is it illegal to send the postal form in and then also do it online?

Nick_C

The link I posted is only to register for the first time or when you are moving.

You shouldn't use it to complete your annual return.

Your annual return had two codes printed on it. You could have used these codes at a special web site to confirm that nothing has changed, or using an automated phone service. This would be the easiest way in future, and the cheapest way for the Council to process the information.

As you've sent your form back, leave things as they are now. If it gets lost in the post, the Council will contact you again.

bigpappa

Nick_C wrote: »

The link I posted is only to register for the first time or when you are moving.

You shouldn't use it to complete your annual return.

Your annual return had two codes printed on it. You could have used these codes at a special web site to confirm that nothing has changed, or using an automated phone service. This would be the easiest way in future, and the cheapest way for the Council to process the information.

As you've sent your form back, leave things as they are now. If it gets lost in the post, the Council will contact you again.

I have the codes but this was from the original letter - posted back the reminder letter. I suppose the codes would be null and void now.

Nick_C

bigpappa wrote: »

I have the codes but this was from the original letter - posted back the reminder letter. I suppose the codes would be null and void now.

I honestly don't know. But as you've sent the form back, don't worry about it. If it has gone astray you will get another reminder, and if you do then use the codes.

Hasbeen

Wow you guys are great. Shameful to say have never sent one back or even completed censuses in 40yrs all in bin as junk mail. But that seems to be the norm here.

Dandytf

bigpappa wrote: »

So I didn't post back the electoral registration form. I received reminder which I posted back last Wednesday. This was the first reminder.

So I just seen on a letter posted through my door saying the Voting Registration Team called today to complete the form.

What does this mean?

Interesting I had a similar visit recently.
I have been registering to vote vie the online url past year or two from the electoral office letter (the one with the code I type in.
Not sure what;s happened this year as the lady visited suggested I wasn't showing on her list.

bigpappa

Nick_C wrote: »

Anyone who has two homes can be registered twice. But you cannot vote twice in the same election.

Suppose you have homes in Brighton and London. In the local elections you can vote in both Brighton and in London. Different Councils so different elections. In a General Election you can only vote once, so you choose where to vote. You will get polling cards for each election but you must only vote once.

But to register you need to provide your Nat Ins number which I presume has your main address. So if you register at multiple addresses then isn't that going to be flagged up?

Don't they match your the address you are registering to vote from and the address on your Nat Ins file?

shortcrust

bigpappa wrote: »

But to register you need to provide your Nat Ins number which I presume has your main address. So if you register at multiple addresses then isn't that going to be flagged up?

Don't they match your the address you are registering to vote from and the address on your Nat Ins file?

There are loads of legitimate reasons why the addresses could differ and/or be out of date. We don't live in a country where you have an official registered main address on a government computer. I quite like it that way.

I think you're looking for solutions to a problem that doesn't really exist.

bigpappa

shortcrust wrote: »

There are loads of legitimate reasons why the addresses could differ and/or be out of date. We don't live in a country where you have an official registered main address on a government computer. I quite like it that way.

I think you're looking for solutions to a problem that doesn't really exist.

So why are they asking for the Nat Ins number other than to check for your address?

I would assume the first thing people do after moving address is inform their bank, utilties etc and the HMRC.

Isn't it a legal requirement to update your address with the HMRC?