Electoral Registration

The Electoral Registration Office carries out the statutory function of preparing and publishing the Register of Electors for the Borough of Hertsmere.

Its functions are governed by various statutes, principally the Local Government Act 1972 and the Representation of the People Act 1983.

For electoral purposes the Borough is divided into fifteen wards, which are further sub-divided into forty-eight polling districts.

A Revised Register of Electors is published at the beginning of December each year based, on information relating to those persons eligible to be registered and resident on 15th October. Electoral registration forms are delivered to every residential property in the Borough during September and the law requires that they be completed and returned to the Electoral Registration Officer. It is an offence not to comply with the request for information.

You can only vote in elections if your name is on the register of electors.

The register is updated every autumn, but we can also add names throughout the year.

Moved home? Coming up to 18? Just not on the register?

All you have to do is fill in a voter registration form. When you send us your form, we will add you to our list of new applicants. Any elector can then object to your name being added to the register. If this happens, we will write to you. If your application is not objected to, we will change your details within seven weeks of receiving your form. We will write to tell you when your application is allowed.

Alternatively the Electoral Commissions' provide an online registration resource: www.aboutmyvote.co.uk .

Why should I bother to register?

If you don't register then you can't exercise your democratic right to vote in an election and it is much harder to obtain credit if you are not on the register.  You can add your name to the register at any time throughout the year.  However the council is required by law to conduct an annual canvass, which involves delivering voter registration forms to every household in the borough to obtain information about where people live so the electoral register can be updated in December. 

You are required by law to give the information asked for in the form.

How do I register?

You need to fill in an electoral registration form which you can get from the Electoral Services Team at the Civic Offices.  A form is automatically sent to your house every year, between August and October, during the annual canvass. 

The form will list all the people currently on the electoral register for the address. Householders are asked to simply add anyone who should be registered and isn’t on the list and cross out anyone who no longer lives at the address.  The form should be signed and returned to the council by the stated deadline, usually in November.

Outside of this period, you can register whenever you want.  The electoral register is updated on a monthly basis, but it takes about six weeks to process your registration, so it is important to register well before the day of an election. 

There are special rules about names being added to the electoral register during an election period and because of this, you may not be able to vote at that election.

When you send us your completed, signed form we will add you to our list of new applications.  Any elector can then object to your name being added to the register – if this happens we will write to you.  If your application is not objected to, we will change your details within seven weeks of receiving your form.

What happens if I have recently moved house?

Anyone who has moved house can amend the details on the form they receive at their new address.  We will remove your name from the list you have previously been registered on unless you ask us not to.  We will also remove any names of the previous occupiers.  People who live at two homes (including students) are allowed to register at both addresses.  If you do not want to be removed from your previous address please explain why on your form.

Electors who move home can now register at their new address at any time between the middle of December and the middle of August,and provided they apply before the middle of March, they will be able to vote at the local elections held in May each year.

'Rolling Registration' application forms must be completed be each person eligible to register. Forms can be obtained from the Electoral Registration Office, by either viewing the on-line request form listed in the index on the right hand side of this page, or by telephoning the Electoral Registration Office. The Register of Electors is a public record and can be inspected during office hours at the The Civic Offices, Elstree Way, Borehamwood.

What if I am homeless or living in temporary accommodation?

Homeless people or people living in temporary or long-term hostel accommodation are entitled to register to vote.

There are two ways of doing this depending on your situation.  If you have lived and will be living in relatively stable accommodation for a year or longer it is possible to register in the usual way. 

If your situation is less stable, for example if you are sleeping rough or in short-term emergency accommodation, you can register to vote by declaration of local connection.  This means that you can register at any location where you spend a large proportion of your time.  This can be a day centre, a doorway, a project base, shop or café, etc.

You can get a form from the Civic Offices, at a library, or a Citizen’s Advice Bureau.  Fill it in (you can get someone to help you if you need to) and return it to the address on the form.  This registration will last for up to a year and will need to be renewed every year.  You need to provide an address where you can collect mail, or alternatively, you can collect it from the council. 

Who can look at the electoral register?

There are two versions of the register – the full version and the edited version.  Your details must always appear on the full version, but you can choose whether or not your details appear on the edited register.  The edited register can be bought by anyone who asks for a copy, and they may use it for any purpose.

• The full register is used for elections, preventing and detecting crime, and checking applications for credit.
• The edited register is for general sale and can be used for commercial activities, such as marketing.
• Anyone can look at the electoral register at the Civic Offices or a local Customer Service Centre.
• Libraries also hold the edited register for the area they serve.
• The electoral register is not linked to council tax.

Anonymous Registration

New legislation came into effect on 1st June 2007, which enables persons who would be at risk of danger if their name and address where to appear in the Register of Electors, to be able to register anonymously. This means that only an electoral number would be shown in the register under a separate section. All electoral documents would be treated in strict confidence and not available to the general public. Application forms and further information can be obtained from the Deputy Registration Officer. This also applies to any person living in the same household as another person who is at risk.

If you have any queries please contact the Electoral Service Team on T: 020 8207 7481 or email electoral.registration@hertsmere.gov.uk.