Electoral registration

It is the statutory duty of the Electoral Registration Officer to prepare and publish a register of electors each year and to include the names of everyone who appears to them to be eligible. This is achieved by sending each household an annual canvass for completion and return. It is compulsory to register but not to vote. The updated register is published by 1 December each year. Since 1 December 2002 two versions of the register have been published.

The full register

The full register will have the names and addresses of everyone registered to vote and will be updated every month. Anyone can look at it, but copies can only be supplied for certain purposes, such as elections and law enforcement. Credit reference agencies will also be allowed to use the full register, but only to check the name and address of anyone applying for credit, and to help stop 'money laundering'. Anyone who has a copy of the register will be committing a criminal offence if they unlawfully pass on information from it. You do not have a choice about your name and address being on this register.

The edited register

The edited register will be available for general sale and can be used for any purpose. You can choose not to be on it. It will be kept separate from the full register. The edited register can be bought by any person, company or organisation and could be used for different purposes such as checking your identity and commercial activities such as marketing.

In addition, 'rolling registration' has now been introduced and enables people to be added to, and deleted from, the electoral register during the year (except between September and November when the new register is being compiled).

The following external link goes to the Lewes District Council Voter Registration Service where you can choose whether the names of electors in your household will appear on the edited register. Make any other changes by amending your registration form.
www.registerbyinternet.com/lewesdc/default.asp