FAQs

In order to keep the Voter's List as accurate as possible a registration form will be delivered to your property during August/September. This form by law must be completed and returned.

It will assist us if you return the form immediately.

The Register of Electors is compiled and published by the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) in all local authorities on 1 December each year. It is a list of people who are eligible to vote and who were living at their property on 15 October of the qualifying year. The Rolling Register, introduced in February 2001, enables people to register to vote as and when they change address on a monthly basis.

To be able to register you must:

• be resident at an address in the Borough
• be a British or Commonwealth citizen, a citizen of the Republic of Ireland or of another member state of the European Union
• be over 16 years old (you cannot vote until your 18th birthday)
• not be subject to any legal incapacity to vote

This is a form of registering your details either by freephone or Internet. This is the first year that Ipswich Borough Council has adopted this method of registering.

If all your details are correct on your annual registration form, i.e. no changes need to be made other than if you wish to change your 'opt out' status. If there are any changes then you will have to register in the normal way by returning your amended form in the envelope provided.

It's your choice whether you vote or not, but the law says you have to register.

If you do not register you could be fined up to a £1000.

There are other reasons why it is beneficial to be listed on the electoral roll:

Credit checks
Credit referencing companies use the electoral roll as a means of checking if someone has good credit rating. If you are not listed on the electoral roll you may have difficulty opening a bank account, applying for a loan, credit card or mortgage.

Jury Service
The electoral roll is used to call people for jury service. Studies show that fewer young people and people from ethnic minorities register to vote. The result is that they are under represented in the judicial system.

For most people the information we have is a year old - we don't know if the situation has changed since then. If there aren't any changes then you can confirm your details by using the freephone facility or on the Internet.

The form is addressed to the 'Present Occupier' - that's you. Please cross out any printed names of anyone who no longer lives at your address and write in the new names.

If you are thinking of living or working abroad you may still be able to register to vote at Parliamentary Elections from your last address here. Your right to vote in this country's elections can last up to 15 years. At the time of an election you can choose to vote by post or proxy.

If you have moved abroad on a permanent basis you can register as an 'Overseas Elector' - click here to view and print a form.

Please leave the form for the next occupier.

If you are a student studying away from home, at college or university you can register to vote at both your home and term-time address. You may not be able to get a student loan if you are not registered.

You can also register for two addresses if you have a second home and live there regularly.

A letter will be sent to all residential properties early in the New Year confirming the details given during the Annual Canvass.

Yes, simply amend your form or, if all the other details are correct you can change your 'opt out' if you use the freephone or Internet service.

It makes no difference, by law, the credit referencing companies can get the full voters list to check identities. Opting out means that other commercial companies, such as mailing firms cannot buy details.

Postal voting is another way of casting your vote during an election. Instead of going to the polling station and completing the ballot paper, the ballot paper is sent direct to an address of your choice. Once you have completed the ballot paper and filled in the necessary paperwork you can then send it back in the envelope provided or you can deliver it to the polling station on Election Day.

A proxy vote enables an elector to appoint a person to vote on their behalf. The appointed person can vote in either two ways in person at the Polling Station or by post.