Press Releases
Don't miss your right to vote because of election myths
Date: 20/03/2007
Urban myths about electoral registration could make High Peak residents miss out on the chance to vote in the local elections, taking place on Thursday 3 May 2007.
This warning comes from High Peak Borough Council as Registration Week begins across England, to raise awareness of the need to register to vote.
Voting in the local elections is the most important way to make your voice heard on the issues that concern people most.
However, it is not possible to vote without being registered on the electoral register and the deadline for registering in time for this May"s elections is fast approaching - on April 18.
There are many myths and misconceptions surrounding registration, but it is important to know the real rights and wrongs behind the process.
Registration information is required by law from those people who are eligible to vote at these elections, namely UK, EU and Commonwealth citizens.
People are not automatically registered even if they pay council tax. Failing to complete and return the necessary form to local authorities or providing false information can result in a fine of up to £1,000.
The last day for registering to vote in this year"s local government elections is Wednesday 18 April. Electoral registration forms must be completed and returned to High Peak Borough Council by this date.
Anyone who has not received or been included on the household form sent last autumn should contact the Electoral Registration Officer on 0845 129 77 77 or email borough-council@highpeak.gov.uk.
Residents who register by email must include their full address and date of moving, along with the names of all electors wishing to be added.
Rosemary Stafford, High Peak's Returning Officer, said: "There are many myths surrounding the process of electoral registration, but the simple fact is that you need to be on the register if you want to use your vote. If you want to vote on the third of May, you must register by the eighteenth of April."
Election rules
- If you are not registered by 18 April 2007, you could lose your right to vote on 3 May 2007.
- Paying council tax does not get you on the register of electors.
- Even though you can"t vote until you're 18, you can register to vote if you are 16 or 17.
- You must by law give your registration details when requested by the council, even if you do not wish to vote. The maximum fine for withholding this information is £1,000.
- If you are not registered, you may find it difficult to open a bank account and it may affect your credit rating, as the register of electors is often used to verify a person"s existence and for credit referencing purposes to counteract fraud.
- The electoral register is used to determine who is eligible for jury service.
- Electoral registration is performed locally, and there is currently no central register of electors.
- You can register in more than one place, although you have to be able to show that you spend a "considerable degree of residence" at both addresses.
- Owning a property, which you do not live at, does not make you eligible; registration is based on residency only. If you are registered at two addresses, you are able to vote twice in local elections, so long as it is for elections for two different councils.
- Students can lawfully register at both their term time address and another address they are resident at, outside of term time.
- If you are a British National living overseas, you are entitled to vote in UK General Elections and European Parliamentary Elections for 15 years after moving abroad. Overseas electors cannot vote at local government elections.
- Citizens of other EU countries can only vote in local elections and European Parliamentary Elections. This is true, unless you are also a citizen of the Commonwealth (Cyprus or Malta) or the Irish Republic - you qualify to vote in all elections.
- Homeless people, remand prisoners and those in mental institutions (other than the criminally insane) are able to register.
- Commercial companies do not have automatic access to your details. Since 2002, there have been two versions of the register " the full and the edited. You cannot opt out of the full register. It is available for inspection or can be supplied for certain purposes, such as law enforcement and credit referencing. You are able to opt out of the edited version " simply by ticking a box on the form that you receive annually, or on a rolling registration form. The edited version is available for general sale and can be used for any purpose.
- It is not just British Citizens who can register. Commonwealth Citizens, EU Citizens and Irish Republic Citizens are also entitled.
- You cannot vote more than once in any one election. It is illegal to do so and could result in a fine of up to £5,000.
