Registering to vote 2012

Introduction 

How do I register to vote?

• download: Camden electoral registration form 2012 (PDF 19KB)

The electoral register

The new electoral register was published on 1 December 2011

The full version is available for inspection at the local history and archives centre and the elections office and the edited version is available for inspection in any Camden library

Monthly deadlines

There are monthly deadlines for applications to be received to go on the electoral register for the following month. After this date, additions or changes to the electoral register can be made by completing the electoral registration form.

If we get your form before:	Your details will be changed on:
Monday 12 December 2011	Tuesday 3 January 2012
Tuesday 10 January 2012	Wednesday 1 February 2012
Wednesday 8 February 2012	Thursday 1 March 2012
Friday 9 March 2012	Monday 2 April 2012
Wednesday 18 April 2012	Thursday 26 April 2012 (For London Mayor/Greater London Authority elections on 3 May 2012)
Thursday 10 May 2012	Friday 1 June 2012
Friday 8 June 2012	Monday 2 July 2012
Tuesday 10 July 2012	Wednesday 1 August 2012
Friday 10 August 2012	Monday 3 September 2012

Who can go on the register?

Nationality/citizenship

Only British, Commonwealth, Irish and European Union citizens are allowed to vote.

This is the list of countries whose citizens are allowed to vote in this country.

Important - if you are the citizen of a country not listed below you cannot vote - even if you are allowed to live in this country.

UK and Commonwealth

• United Kingdom 
• Republic of Ireland
• Antigua & Barbuda
• Australia
• The Bahamas
• Bangladesh
• Barbados
• Belize
• Botswana
• Brunei
• Canada
• Cameroon
• Cyprus * also in EU
• Fiji
• The Gambia
• Ghana
• Grenada
• Guyana
• India
• Jamaica
• Kenya
• Kiribati
• Lesotho
• Malawi
• Malaysia
• Maldives
• Malta * also in EU
• Mauritius
• Mozambique
• Namibia
• Nauru
• New Zealand
• Nigeria
• Pakistan
• Papua New Guinea
• St Christopher & Nevis    Rwanda
• St Lucia
• St Vincent& the Grenadines
• Seychelles
• Sierra Leone
• Singapore
• Solomon Islands
• South Africa
• Sri Lanka
• Swaziland
• Tanzania
• Tonga
• Trinidad & Tobago
• Tuvalu
• Uganda
• Vanuatu
• Western Samoa
• Zambia
• Zimbabwe

British Overseas Territories

Citizens of the following countries can go on the electoral register.

• Anguilla
• Bermuda
• British Antarctic Territory
• British Indian Ocean Territory
• British Virgin Islands
• Cayman Island
• Falkland Islands & Dependencies (South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands)
• Gibraltar
• Hong Kong (see note below)
• Monserrat, South Georgia & The South
• Sandwich Islands, St Helena & Dependencies (Ascension & Tristan da Cunha)
• The Pitcairn Islands
• The Sovereign Base Area of Akrotiri & Dhekelia (Cyprus)
• Turks & Calicos Islands

Note: If Hong Kong citizens already possess British citizenship, they are eligible for registration. The majority of Hong Kong citizens were previously British Overseas Territory citizens until Hong Kong passed to China on 1 July 1997. After the handover to China,  these citizens have the right to register as British National (Overseas) Citizens by virtue of the Hong Kong (British Nationality) Order 1986. This makes them Commonwealth citizens with the same registration rights as other Commonwealth nationals.

European Union Countries only (not for UK parliamentary elections)

• Austria
• Latvia
• Belgium
• Lithuania
• Bulgaria
• Luxembourg
• Czech Republic
• Netherlands
• Denmark
• Poland
• Estonia
• Portugal
• Finland
• Romania
• France
• Slovakia
• Germany
• Slovenia
• Greece
• Spain
• Hungary
• Sweden
• Italy   

Forthcoming elections

The next scheduled elections are the London Mayor and Greater London Authority elections on Thursday 3 May 2012.

The two versions of the voters list

The electoral registration officer makes and keeps two versions of the Voters List - a full version and an edited version.

The full voters list

• The full voters list lists the name and address of everyone who is registered to vote. The council holds a copy. Anyone can look at it, but it is a criminal offence to supply or use copies for purposes other than those set down in law. More information is available at www.aboutmyvote.co.uk.
• The main use of the full register is to show who can vote in elections and referendums. Credit reference agencies can use it, but only to check your name and address if you are applying for credit and for other purposes specified in law. It can also be used for law enforcement.

The edited voters list

• The edited list is available for general sale and can be used for any purpose. The edited register can be bought by any person, company or organisation and be used for commercial activities such as marketing. If you do not want your details sold from the edited list, you must tell us. Please tick the ‘opt out’ box on the form.
• Please ask other household members if they do not want their names to be on the edited list .
• If you have already said you do not want to be on the edited list when you registered at your address, you will have a tick shown in this column on your form.
• Please note that you can decide each year if you wish to be included on the edited list. If your name has a tick against it, you can go on the edited register by putting a cross through the tick.

Anonymous registration

Certain people can now apply to be entered anonymously on the register of electors. To find out more information, please contact electoral services

Reasons for registering

You are required by law to be on the electoral register if you are eligible to be on the voter’s list. In addition to enabling you to vote at national and local elections, your entry also:

• Is usually the only way for you to get a credit rating from the Credit Reference Agencies;
• Gives you access to Council services such as parking permits;
• Can be used as a reference point by landlords, Housing Associations and other bodies to confirm your residence.

Contact

• contact electoral services
  

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Page last updated Jan 11, 2012 1:36 PM