Who can access the Register of Electors?

There are two versions of the Register of Electors: the full version and the edited version. When you fill in your form, you can choose to 'opt out' of the edited version, which anyone can buy.

The full register

The full register lists the name and address of everyone who is registered to vote. A copy is held at Elmbridge Civic Centre and anyone can view it under supervision. If this leads to you having serious concerns about your safety, please |contact Electoral Services for further details.

Copies of the full register can only be supplied for certain purposes. The main use of the full register is to show who can vote in elections and referendums. Credit reference agencies use it, but only to check your name and address if you are applying for credit. It can also be used for law enforcement.

The Representation of the People (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2002 specify who can have a copy of the full register and what they can use it for. It is a criminal offence to use the full register for any other purpose or to pass it on to anyone else.

The edited register

The edited register 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 can be used for commercial activities such as marketing.

The person who fills in and signs the registration form for your address must ask each person named on the form if they wish their details to be supplied on the edited register.

You can choose to be excluded from the edited register by ticking the appropriate box on your registration form. You must make your choice clear every year when we send a voter registration form to your property during the autumn, even if you have opted out before. You can do this by ticking the box on the paper form, or by selecting this option when responding by telephone or internet.