Electoral Registration

How often is the Electoral Register updated?

Each year, by law, the Electoral Registration Officer has to prepare a new and accurate voters lists. The only way we can collect the information required is by sending a new electoral registration form to every household. Other council records are not used, for instance you may be registered for council tax, but this does not put you on the electoral register.

There are two ways to register to vote by Annual Canvass or by Rolling Registration.

Annual Canvass

Each year between September and November we send a form to every household on our records asking for the details to be checked, and updated where necessary. If the details have not changed you must still re-register by either calling the FREEPHONE telephone registration number shown on the form, by using the internet registration site or by signing the form and returning it to us by post. This will ensure that you remain registered.

Rolling Registration

You can apply to be added to the Register between December and August by completing an application form, Download an application form to register as an elector. (17K). If you have moved house or are not registered. Once completed, send the form to us and we will process your application promptly.

The Statutory Timetable for adding names to the register is shown below. We will write to you to confirm that your application has been accepted once the necessary deadline has passed.

Applications received between these dates		Will be added to the Register on
11 DEC 2007	10 JAN 2008	01 FEB 2008
11 JAN 2008	08 FEB 2008	03 MAR 2008
09 FEB 2008	10 MAR 2008	01 APR 2008
11 MAR 2008	09 APR 2008	01 MAY 2008
10 APR 2008	09 MAY 2008	02 JUN 2008
10 MAY 2008	09 JUN 2008	01 JUL 2008
10 JUN 2008	10 JUL 2008	01 AUG 2008
11 JUL 2008	08 AUG 2008	01 SEP 2008
09 AUG 2008	09 SEP 2008	01 OCT 2008
10 SEP 2008	10 OCT 2008	03 NOV 2008

Following your initial registration you must ensure that you complete and return the Annual Canvass form which will be sent to your property in August to remain registered.

• If you do not register then you cannot exercise your democratic right to vote in any election.
• It is much harder to obtain credit if you are not on the Register.
  

You can check the Electoral Register at the Civic Centre, Stourport-on-Severn or at the local libraries.

Alternatively you can contact the Electoral Registration Office on 01562 732928 who will check the register for you.

All you need to do is complete an application form to register as an elector (17K). 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.

• 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.
  

If you are unable to go to your Polling Station on Election Day, you can apply to vote by post  (19K) or apply to vote by proxy  (23K) (a proxy is someone who votes on your behalf)

Please return completed Application Forms to: Electoral Registration Officer, District of Wyre Forest, Civic Centre, New Street, Stourport-on-Severn, Worcs, DY13 8UJ. If in any doubt please contact the Electoral Registration Officer for further advice.

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.

For Local Elections the hours of poll are 7.00 am to 10.00 pm

For Parliamentary and European Elections the hours of poll are 7.00 am to 10.00 pm

For General Elections the hours of poll are 7.00 am to 10.00 pm

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 you wish to vote for.

Fold the ballot paper and deposit it in the ballot box.

In accordance with the Local Authorities (Referendums) (Petitions & Directions) Regulations 2000 (as amended) you can view the number of electors needed to sign a petition (11K) for such a referendum to be held.

Read the Notice of intention to publish a revised version of the Register of Electors 2008     (10K)