FAQs - Registration

 Can I register to vote?
 How do I register to vote?
 What elections can I vote at?
 How can I vote?
 How do I apply to vote by Post?
 How do I appoint and vote by Proxy?

FAQs - Electoral Roll

 What is the Electoral Roll?
 Where is the Electoral Roll kept?
 Who can view the Electoral Roll?
 Can I view the register online?
 Where can I view previous Electoral Rolls?
 How does registering affect my credit references?

Can I register to vote?

All British, Irish and qualifying Commonwealth citizens, aged 16 or 17 years old, and resident in the UK, can register to vote in all elections held in the UK. However, only persons aged 18 or over may vote. 16 and 17 year old must give their date of birth when registering.



What elections can I vote at?

Citizens of the EU, who are resident in the UK, can vote in Local Elections only, unless a UC1 Form has been returned to  Electoral Services, as this will allow voting rights for European Parliamentary elections as well. British citizens who live abroad can vote for a period of 15 years after leaving Britain, but can only vote in Parliamentary and European Parliamentary elections. 

Residents of British Overseas Territories,  whether British Overseas Territories citizens or British citizens, can vote in all UK elections, provided that they meet the normal UK residence and age requirements. However, they cannot vote in UK elections when resident outside of Great Britain.

 List of British Overseas territories
 Members of the Commonwealth of Nations
 Members of the European Union



How can I vote?

There are three ways to vote at elections; in person at a polling station, by post, or by appointing a proxy to vote on your behalf.

If you choose to vote in person, Electoral Services will send your polling card to your registered address shortly before an election. Everyone who is eligible to vote, and who appears on the current register, will receive a poll card, detailing their poll number, their polling station, and the date of election. You don't need to take your poll card with you to the polling station, but it may save time if you do.



How do I apply to vote by post?

If you choose to vote by post, Electoral Services will send out a postal poll card to your registered address shortly before an election. This will be followed by a postal voting pack, which includes a ballot paper, ballot paper envelope, and a postage paid return envelope. You should post your vote in time to reach the Returning Officer before the close of poll.

To apply for a postal vote, please request an application form from Electoral Services using the  contact details on our homepage.



How do I appoint and vote by proxy?

If you require to vote by proxy for one election only - you will need to say why you cannot attend the polling station on election day. If you want to vote by proxy for a longer period, you must satisfy certain criteria and your application may have to be attested.

If you need to appoint a proxy to vote on your behalf, please  contact Electoral Services for an application form and more advice.

More information about registering to vote and voting can be found on the Electoral Commission's About My Vote website.

 About My Vote



What is the Electoral Roll?

The Electoral Roll or Register of Electors is a register of all the names and addresses of people who are eligible to vote in an area. Since December 2002 two versions of the register are published each year; an edited register and a full register. Your name and address will appear on the full register, BUT you can choose to opt out of the edited register when you fill out a registration form, by ticking the box headed "edited" register.

The full register is used for elections, preventing and detecting crime and checking applications for credit. The edited register is available for general sale and can be used for any purpose, including for commercial activities such as marketing. This is also the version used by websites which claim to have electoral registers available for online searching.

If you are being troubled with unwanted marketing approaches by phone or letter, you can sign up with the following services to reduce unwanted marketing, by clicking the links below.

 Mailing Preference Service

 Telephone Preference Service



Where is the Electoral Roll Kept?

The current full Register of Electors is held in the Electoral Services Office. 



Who can view the Electoral Roll and where?

The full version of the Electoral Roll is available for inspection at our offices in the Civic Building, Walker Place, Rotherham. Anyone is entitled to view the Electoral Register, but only under supervision of a member of the Electoral Services Team. The register is published in address order and it is not possible to search it by name only.



Can I view the register online?

The full register is not available on the internet. Websites that claim to have the register of electors only have the edited version.



Where can I view previous Electoral Rolls?

Previous versions of the Electoral Roll are kept within the Archives and Local Studies Service. Records are held for the Rotherham Constituency (1910- 1940, 1945-2006), Rother Valley Constituency (1945-2006, except for 1970-71), Dearne Valley Constituency (1971-1983, except for 1975-77), and Wentworth Constituency (1984 - 2006). Please telephone the Archive Service for an appointment, with details of which register and period you wish to view.

 Click here to visit the Archive and Local Studies pages



How does registering affect my credit references?

Credit reference agencies use the electoral register to check the names and addresses of people applying for credit. This is known as a credit check. If you are not on the electoral register, it may affect your loan or mortgage applications.



Members of the Commonwealth of Nations