Registering to vote

The Electoral Register

Compiling the electoral register

Using information from voter registration applications and the Annual Canvass, registration officers keep two registers:

  • electoral register
  • open register, also known as the edited register

The electoral register lists the names and addresses of everyone who is registered to vote in public elections. The electoral register is used for electoral purposes, such as making sure only eligible people can vote. It is also used for other limited purposes specified in law, such as:

  • detecting crime, for example fraud
  • calling people for jury service
  • checking credit applications

The electoral register, or electoral roll, lists the names and addresses of everyone who’s registered to vote. the register is published once a year and updated every month.

The law makes it compulsory for you to provide information to an electoral registration officer for inclusion in the electoral register. The details you are likely to have to provide are:

  • your name
  • address
  • nationality
  • age
  • National Insurance number

Open register

The open register contains the same information as the electoral register but is not used for elections or referendums. It is updated and published every month and can be sold to any person, organisation or company for a wide range of purposes.

The open register is used by businesses and charities for checking names and address details; users of the register include direct marketing firms and also online directory firms.

How is the electoral register used?

The electoral register is used by electoral registration officers and returning officers across the country for purposes related to elections and referendums. Political parties, MPs and public libraries may also have the electoral register.

It is also used by local authorities for their duties relating to security, law enforcement and crime prevention, for example checking entitlement to council tax discount or housing benefit. It may also be used by the police for law enforcement purposes. The courts use the register to summon people for jury service.

It can be sold to government departments to help in their duties such as the prevention or detection of crime. They can also use it for vetting job applicants and employees if this is required by law. Credit reference agencies are allowed to buy the full version of the register so that lenders can check the names and addresses of people applying for credit and carry out identity checks to help stop money laundering.

It is a crime for anyone who has a copy of the electoral register to pass information from this register onto others if they do not have a lawful reason to see it.

The full version can be viewed under supervision by anyone. This can only be done at Kensington Central Library by appointment and only handwritten notes can be made. The register is listed in address, not name order. The full register is also provided to various organisations according to their legal entitlement. These bodies include:

  • councillors
  • registered political parties
  • Electoral Commission
  • Court Service
  • British Library
Can I ‘opt out’ from the open register?

Your details will be included in the open version of the register unless you ask for them to be removed. Removing your details from the open register will not affect your right to vote.

Contact us by email or in writing, including your name and address, requesting removal of your name from the open register.

Should you wish later to opt back into the open register, write to us again to request this.

How do I remove a name from the electoral register?

If you have moved address, registering to vote at the new address will move your registration to the new property.

If someone is registered at your address and now needs to be removed, contact the Electoral Services team by letter or email, and provide the details of the name, address and reason for removal. Once we receive confirmation that person is no longer living at your address, we will remove the entry from the register on the next publication date.

Your name will be removed from the current version of the open register only. It cannot be removed from any previous version.

When will your name be added to the electoral register?

We usually publish an updated version of the electoral register on the first working day of each month. If you want to be added to the register in time for its next publication date, you need to return your registration form to us before the deadline for that month. Deadline dates for adding your name to the register can be found on the Electoral Commission website.

Further information

Contact us

Electoral Services 
Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
Town Hall
Hornton Street
London 
W8 7NX

Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm

Last updated: 29 May 2025