In the United Kingdom, the electoral register is a listing of all those registered to vote in a particular area, for example in a general election. All European Union citizens living in the UK are entitled to register, though only citizens of the UK and Republic of Ireland and entitled to vote in non-EU elections. The register is also used to select people for jury duty.
The "full version" of the register is open for supervised inspection and is held at the offices of the local council and local electoral registration office. Limited organisations are entitled to a copy of the full register; the purposes for which it may be used are limited by law. An edited version (that omits those people who have chosen not to be included) can be purchased.
At present the register is completed by sending a form to every house, although since 2001 a form can be completed and submitted at any time. A fine of up to 1,000 pounds can be imposed for failing to complete the form or giving false information. The register is prepared and published annually by the Electoral Registration Officer of all local authorities on December 1.
It has been suggested that in the future the register may be taken from the data that is to be held on the proposed Citizen Information Project [1], or on the National Identity Register [2]. In January 2005 the Constitutional Affairs Committee and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister began a joint inquiry into reforming the registration system.
Plans for a Coordinated Online Register of Electors are also expected in 2005, the intention being to standardise local registers and permit central data access.
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Last updated: 08-09-2005 22:18:29
