Electoral registration
Voter Registration Forms for 2009/2010
Voter registration forms will be sent to all households in the District at the end of August 2009 to register for the 2009/2010 Register of Electors, which will come into force on 1st December 2009.
If you do not receive a registration form please contact the Electoral Services office via the link on the right or on 01480 388017.
The Register of Electors is the list of everyone in the District who is entitled to vote and is published every year on 1st December and is also updated monthly.
The current Register of Electors for Huntingdonshire contains 123,207 electors
How do I Register?
You can register through the annual canvass form which will be sent to you, or a rolling Register arrangement – download the form in linked documents to the right or apply to the Electoral Registrations Office.
Will I be able to vote as soon as I have completed the Registration Form?
There is an objection period; if no objection received you will be able to vote at the beginning of next month. The acknowledgement letter you will receive once you have applied will confirm the dates specific to your request.
How do I check I am on the Register?
The Register is available for inspection at the Council Offices at Pathfinder House – contact the Electoral Registrations Office.
What do I do if I find my name is not included in the Register?
Please complete and return the Electoral Registration form which can be found in linked documents to the right.
I live in lodgings, how do I get on the Register?
If you have not been sent a registration form apply to the Electoral Registrations Office or complete and return the form linked on the right of this page.
I live in rented accommodation; do I need to fill in a form or can I leave it to my Landlord to deal with?
No, it is your responsibility to make arrangements to be put on the Register. If you have not been sent a registration form please complete and return the form linked to the right.
I pay council tax, so why am I not on the Register?
These are two separate Registers; you need to be on the Electoral Register in order to vote.
Do I have to be on the Electoral Register to get Credit?
It may be more difficult to obtain credit if you are not on the Register.
My neighbours have all received poll cards for the forthcoming elections but I haven’t – will I be able to vote?
It would be advisable to check that you are on the Register. Alternatively where you live there may not be an election taking place that affects your address as in certain areas wards can split streets.
Why do you keep sending me a form each year? I registered 5 years ago and nothing has changed.
There is an annual review of all electors across the District each year, this is to ensure our voting information is accurate and current.
I would like to see a copy of the Electoral Register
There is an edited version in the library or a full version at the Council Offices at Centenary House that can be viewed under supervision. You will only be able to copy details by the way of hand written notes.
My friend who lives on the other side of the town has received a poll card but I haven't and neither have any of my neighbours, why is that?
It would be advisable to check that you are on the Register. Alternatively where you live there may not be an election taking place that affects your address.
Access to the Electoral Register
We often receive enquiries about the Electoral Register. The Register is held at your local Council Office, who you should contact if you are unsure if you are on the Register or would like to check details on this. The Electoral Register lists the name and address of everyone who has registered to vote. By law, your local authority has to make the Electoral Register available for anyone to look at. Until now, any company, organisation or person could buy a copy of the Register. But the Government has changed the law so that now you have some choice about who can buy details of your name and address. Under the changes there are two versions of the Register: the full version and the edited version.
Two versions of the Register
The full Register
Has the names and addresses of everyone registered to vote and is updated every month. Anyone can look at it, but copies can only be supplied for certain purposes, such as elections and law enforcement. Credit reference agencies are also allowed to use the full Register, but only to check your name and address if you are applying for credit, and to help stop 'money laundering'. Anyone who has a copy of the Register will be committing a criminal offence if they unlawfully pass on information from it. You do not have a choice about your name and address being on this Register.
The edited Register
Will be available for general sale and can be used for any purpose. You can choose not to be on it. It will be kept separate from the full Register and updated every month. The edited Register can be bought by any person, company or organisation and could be used for different purposes such as checking your identity and commercial activities such as marketing.
The choice you have to make
If you do tick the box on the voter registration form, your name and address will only appear on the full Register. If you do not tick the box on the voter registration form, your name will also appear on the edited version of the Register, which anyone can buy. This means anyone can use your details for any purpose.
How can I view the Register?
The Register is not available on the Internet and can only be inspected in person.
Can I look someone up on the voters list?
We can only confirm information, we cannot supply information i.e. we will not supply an address to a name.
I’ve lost contact with a friend/relative. If I give you their name, can you tell me where they live?
No, we can only confirm information.
Questions relating to Electoral Registration Annual Canvass
I have not received a voter registration form in respect of the new register.
Please complete and return the form linked on the right of this page. Alternatively, please supply your name and address and a form will be sent to you.
I have received a voter registration form and it has the details of the previous occupiers at this address, what should I do?
Cross through their names in pen and insert your name(s) underneath before sending the form back to us.
I am moving from my address before 15th October 2009, do I still need to complete this form?
No, please leave the form for the new occupiers. If you are moving within the district, please check to see that there is a voter registration form waiting for you at the new address. If not, please telephone 01480 388017 and a form will be sent to you. Should you be moving to an address outside this district you will need to contact the council offices for that area and request a form.
My son/daughter is a student living away from home, do I need to register him/her on my registration form?
They may receive a form to complete at their university address, but to safeguard their vote I would suggest that you include their name on your form. It is not an offence to be registered more than once.
My husband is a member of the armed forces, do I need to include his name on the voter registration form?
Members of the armed forces may apply to register on a service declaration from, available from their service unit, but it is best if you safeguard his vote by including his name on the form you have received.
I have lost or damaged my voter registration form, can you send me another form?
Please let us have your name & address, and another form will be sent to you.
This is a holiday home, do I need to complete this registration form?
If you normally vote in respect of another address, and you have completed a voter registration form in respect of that address, please endorse this form ‘holiday home only’ and return. It is not an offence to register in respect of more than one address, but you can only vote in respect of ONE address at a Parliamentary election.
A voter registration form has been sent to this address, which is currently unoccupied and the property is up for sale. What should I do with this registration form?
Please let us have the details of the address and we will arrange to have the names of the previous occupiers removed. Please leave the form for the new residents to complete and return.
On my registration from I am marked down as having a postal vote, how do I cancel this postal vote, as I want to be able to vote in person at future elections?
Please make a note on the form stating that you wish to cancel your postal vote. The postal vote will be cancelled once we receive your returned registration form.
I have married, but the voter registration form, still has my maiden name. How do I change my details with you?
Simply draw a line through your old name and insert your married name on the form.
My son/daughter has gone to work abroad for a few years, can I still include him/her on my registration form?
Any person whose employment takes them out of the country for more than six months in any one year, must register as an overseas elector, overseas electors can only vote at National elections. An application form for your son/daughter to complete, if he/she so wishes, will be sent to you.