To vote at any election you need to included with the Register of Electors. This page explains the importance of registering your details for electoral purposes and how to make sure that you are registered at your current property.
The register of electors is a list of everyone who is entitled to vote. You can only vote in elections if your name is listed on the current register. However, the register is also used by many organisations to check your identity and not being registered at your current address can affect your credit rating, could prevent you from doing the following:
- opening a bank account
- getting a mobile phone contract
- buying a house
- receiving a student grant
In addition to this, it may also cost you and everyone else in the Borough additional Council Tax contributions, as the Government uses the electoral register to assess the population of Darlington and uses that figure when deciding how much money it grants to the Council to pay for key services.
It is a legal requirement to have your name included on the register and you are not automatically registered, even if you do pay Council Tax. You must complete and update an electoral registration form every year.
In order to register you must meet the following criteria:
The electoral register is updated every month from January through to September.
How Do I Register?
If you are not registered at your current address, have moved to the area or changed your addresses in Darlington since 15th October you can apply to have your details updated using a rolling registration form.
We will also tell the Electoral Registration Officer for your old address that you have moved, so that your details can be removed from that register. There is a deadline each month to get a new application on to the following month’s updated register. These dates are as follows:
| If you return your form by... |
Your details will be updated on... |
| Friday, 10th August 2007 |
Monday 3rd September, 2007 |
There are no monthly updates in October and November during the period of the annual canvass.
Annual Canvass
The register of electors is published every year on the 1st December.
An electoral registration form will be delivered to your property towards the end of August and will detail the names of the people who are currently registered at your address. You should check these details and either sign and return the form to confirm the details are correct, or amend the details to reflect who will be living in the property on the 15th October.
If there are no changes to your details you will also be able to confirm your details through an automated telephone service or on-line using a security code, which will be printed on your form.
How Can I Access the Register?
The electoral register is by law, a public document. It is available for inspection to allow members of the public and political parties to check to ensure that all eligible names have been included. This is considered to be an important safeguard against the potential for abuse of the electoral system.
Prior to 2002, any company, organisation or person could buy a copy of the register. The law has now changed so that electors have some choice about who can buy details of their name and address. Under these changes two versions of the register are now produced: the full version and the edited version.
Full Register
The full register can be inspected by anyone, under supervision, but copies can only be supplied for certain purposes, such as elections, law enforcement and to credit reference agencies for credit checks and to help stop money laundering.
To arrange to view the full register, please make an appointment by calling Democratic Services.
Edited Register
The edited register is available for general sale and can be used for any purposes, usually commercial activities such as marketing. You can choose not to have your details included in the edited register by marking a box on either the annual canvass or rolling registration form. We refer to this as ‘opting out’ of the edited register.
The edited version of the register can be purchased in either electronic data or paper format by polling district, ward or for Darlington a whole.
The cost of the electoral register is calculated at a price per 1000 electors plus a flat rate of £20.00 in addition to £5.00 postage and packaging.
The Edited Register of Electors is available for inspection at the following places:
Reception Desk, Town Hall, Darlington Tel. 01325 380651
Crown Street Library, Crown Street, Darlington Tel. 01325 462034
Cockerton Public Library, Woodlands Road, Darlington Tel. 01325 461320
How to contact us...
By E-Mail to Democratic@darlington.gov..uk
By phone (01325) 388351
In writing to Democratic Services
Corporate Services Department
Town Hall
Darlington
DL1 5QT