Electoral Registration
Annual Canvass
- What is the Register of Electors?
- How do I know if I qualify?
- Nationalities entitled to vote
- What is the Annual Canvass
- What is the Registration Date?
- What are the two Registers?
Rolling Registration
- How do I get my name on the Electoral Register?
- Why should I register?
- How can I view the register?
- What if I am not on the published register?
- How long will it take to put my details on the register?
- Who is eligible to vote?
- What if I am unable to get to the Polling Station on Election Day?
- Voting by Post
- Voting by Proxy
- How do I vote
- How to contact us
What is the Register of Electors?
Democracy in Britain is based on ordinary people being able to have their say in the way they are governed. This is done through elections to local councils, Parliament and European Parliaments. But you can only vote in these elections if your name is included in the Register of Electors.
How do I know if I qualify?
You can ONLY vote if you are registered - i.e. included in the Register of Electors. Only the following people can be registered:
- British citizens, citizens of other Commonwealth countries or of the Irish Republic.
- Citizens of other Member States of the European Union - You should include all citizens of the following States:
Austria Belgium
Bulgaria
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Italy
Ireland
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxemburg
Malta
Netherlands
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
These citizens will be registered as local government electors only (unless they are also Commonwealth citizens such as citizens of Cyprus and Malta, or citizens of the Irish Republic, who can vote in all elections).
- Those living in your household who are 16 and 17 years old – they can vote as soon as they are 18. Please give their dates of birth.
- Those who normally live in your household but are away for the time being – for example on holiday, as students, or in hospital (including voluntary patients in psychiatric hospitals).
- Anyone who is away working, unless they are away for more than six months.
- Any other residents, lodgers or guests (but not short-stay visitors) in your household, whether this is a private address, a hostel or a club.
- British citizens living abroad can be registered for up to 15 years after they last appeared on a register in the UK.
- Members of the Armed Forces, Crown Servants, etc. and their partners must register annually, but can do so as ‘Service’ etc. voters or as ordinary voters.
A VISA ALLOWING FOREIGN NATIONALS TO STAY IN THE UK INDEFINITELY IS NOT THE SAME AS CITIZENSHIP.
Nationalities Entitled to Vote
European Union Member States, British Commonwealth and Dependant Territories
If you are a citizen of one of the countries listed below you are entitled to register and vote in elections.
Citizens from Member States of the European Union must register as local government electors, and may register as European electors to allow them to vote in EU elections in this constituency.
British and Irish citizens should be registered as ordinary electors and not as Europeans.
Turkish nationals are NOT entitled to register to vote in the United Kingdom, but ALL of Cyprus is part of the Commonwealth.
| Antigua & Barbuda | Australia | The Bahamas | Bangladesh |
| Barbados | Belize | Botswana | Brunei Darussalam |
| Cameroon | Canada | Cyprus | Dominica |
| Fiji Islands | The Gambia | Ghana | Grenada |
| Guyana | India | Jamaica | Kenya |
| Kiribati | Lesotho | Malawi | Malaysia |
| Maldives | Malta | Mauritius | Mozambique |
| Namibia | Nauru | New Zealand | Nigeria |
| Pakistan | Papua New Guinea | St Kitts & Nevis | St Lucia |
| St Vincent & The Grenadines | Samoa | Seychelles | Sierra Leone |
| Singapore | Solomon Islands | South Africa | Sri Lanka |
| Swaziland | United Republic of Tanzania | Tonga | Trinidad & Tobago |
| Tuvalu | Uganda | United Kingdom | Vanuatu |
| Zambia | Zimbabwe | Hong Kong | |
What is the Annual Canvass?
The register is prepared after a canvass of all houses, flats, bedsits and homes or hostels in the borough. This is carried out throughout the autumn every year. During late August forms are posted out to check the details of who should be included. From August 2004 where there is no change to the personal details on the form a response can be made using the Freephone telephone number. Where there are any changes, these need to be made on the form before it is returned in the Free post envelope provided.
The registration forms during the canvass are ‘household’ forms, where all those living in the house/flat can put their names on the same form.
The Revised Register when published on 1December can be inspected at the Town Hall and is made available for sale to credit agencies.
What is the Registration Date?
During the Annual Canvass the ‘Registration Date’ is any date between 1 September and 30 November.
Applications to register at other times must be made on individual registration forms ("Rolling Registration"). On these applications the Relevant date, or ‘qualifying date’ as it used to be known, is the date the application is made. There is no monthly update during September, October or November during the annual canvass period, when all households have to register. A new register is published on 1 December.
What are the two Registers?
The full Register
The full Register lists everyone who is entitled to vote and includes their address. You can check it by calling at the council offices. Only certain people and organisations can have copies of the full Register, and they can only use it for specified purposes. The main use of the full Register is for elections and referendums, but it can also be used for other purposes such as the prevention and detection of crime and for checking your identity when you have applied for credit. Details of others who can have copies of the full Register and what they can use it for are given in the Representation of the People (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2002 (SI 2002 No.1871). It is a criminal offence not to comply with the regulations. For example, it is a criminal offence either to pass the full Register on to anyone or to use it for any purpose, except as allowed by the regulations. These regulations are available on the Internet at www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/stat.htm 
or you can buy a copy from The Stationery Office Ltd.
The edited Register
The edited Register leaves out the names and addresses of people who have asked for them to be excluded from that version of the Register. The edited Register can be bought by anyone who asks for a copy and they may use it for any purpose.
Sale of the Register
Copies of both versions of the register can be sold. Anyone entitled to buy the Full Register must use it only for credit checks or crime prevention. There is no restriction on who can buy the Edited Register.
Check the Register
The register can be inspected, under supervision, at the Town Hall, Sankey Street Warrington.
How do I get my name on the Electoral Register?
You can apply to add your name to the register of electors at any time throughout the year, with the exception of the annual canvass period (Mid August to late November). Click here for an application form.
Why should I register?
- If you do not register then you cannot exercise your democratic right to vote in any election or referendum.
- It is much harder to obtain credit if you are not on the Register.
- You are required to do so by law.
How can I view the register?
You can check the Electoral Register at Warrington Central Library and the Town Hall. Alternatively you can contact the Electoral Registration Office on 01925 442184 who will check the register for you.
What if I am not on the published register?
All you need to do is complete the voter registration form. You need to sign your own form - someone else cannot do it for you. When you send us your completed, signed form we will add you to our list of new applications. Any elector can then object to your name being added to the register. If this happens we will write to you.
How long will it take to put my details on the register?
| Last date for applications | Issue of Notices (Qualifying date) |
| Tuesday 11 December 2007 | Wednesday 2 January 2008 |
| Thursday 10 January 2008 | Friday 1 February 2008 |
| Friday 8 February 2008 | Monday 3 March 2008 |
| Monday 10 March 2008 | Tuesday 1 April 2008 |
| Wednesday 9 April 2008 | Thursday 1 May 2008 |
| Friday 9 May 2008 | Monday 2 June 2008 |
| Monday 9 June 2008 | Tuesday 1 July 2008 |
| Thursday 10 July 2008 | Friday 1 August 2008 |
| Friday 8 August 2008 | Monday 1 September 2008 |
Who is eligible to vote?
- You have to be eighteen years or over.
- All British, Commonwealth, Irish and other European Union citizens.
- Overseas electors.
- Members of HM Forces and their spouses.
- Crown servants employed outside the United Kingdom.
- European citizens are allowed to vote in European and Local Elections only.
- Overseas Electors are allowed to vote in Parliamentary and European Elections only.
What if I am unable to get to the Polling Station on Election Day?
If you are unable to go to your Polling Station on Election Day, you can apply to vote by post or proxy (a proxy is someone who votes on your behalf).
Voting by Post
If you are unable to got to your Polling Station on election day you are welcome to vote by post. You can apply to vote by post on a temporary or permanent basis without having to give a reason why you want a postal vote.
Please contact the Electoral Registration Officer who will advise which form you need to complete.
Voting by Proxy
It is also possible to let someone else vote on your behalf. Unlike a postal vote this requires you to give a reason why you cannot vote in person (e.g. on holiday, physical incapacity, or employment). It is possible to have a permanent proxy vote for reasons of physical incapacity or employment. However, your application will have to be certified by a third party. In the case of physical incapacity, it is a Doctor, Nurse, Warden of sheltered accommodation or manager of a care/nursing home. In the case of employment, the application must be certified by your employer or a person willing to certify that you are self–employed.
Please contact the Electoral Registration Officer who will advise which form you need to complete.
How do I vote?
Poll cards are delivered shortly before an Election. Each member of the household who is eligible to vote should receive a poll card which informs them of the date of the election, where their polling station is and the hours of poll. You do not need to take the poll card with you to be able to vote, but it will help the polling staff if you do.
On arrival at your designated polling station, the Presiding Officer will ask you to confirm your name and address and will issue you with a ballot paper. The ballot paper will be marked with an official stamp.
You should take the ballot paper to the voting booth and mark with a "X" the candidate(s) you wish to vote for.
Fold the ballot paper and put it in the ballot box.
How to contact us
01925 442184 
01925 442044 
elections@warrington.gov.uk
Electoral Registration Officer, Democratic Services and Member Support, Warrington Borough Council, West Annexe, Town Hall, Warrington, WA1 1UH
