Electoral Registration

Who is eligible to register?

• You have to be 18 or over
• British, qualifying Commonwealth, Irish and other European Union citizens.

Why should I register?

If you do not register then you cannot exercise your democratic right to vote in any election.

Credit Reference Agencies use the electoral register when checking if a person has a good credit rating. If you are not listed on the register then you may have difficulty applying for a loan, credit card, and mortgage or in opening a bank account.

The electoral register is used to appoint people for jury service.

How can I view the register?

You can view the current electoral register, under supervision, for the whole Borough at both Wigan and Leigh Libraries. Other branch libraries hold information for the local area.

Earlier electoral registers can be checked at the History Shop, Library Street, Wigan.

How do I get my name on the Electoral Register?

You can add your name to the register of electors at any time throughout the year, except during the months of September, October and November. This is the time when a Canvass of each property in the Borough is undertaken.  This year, because of Police and Crime Commissioner elections in November, the annual canvass was carried out a little earlier than usual and a new register was published on 16 October 2012.

If you are not already registered you have until 31 October to register yourself in order to be eligible to vote at the first ever Police and Crime Commissioner elections on 15 November 2012.

Dowload and print the electoral registration application form (.pdf, 49kb).

Before completing your form please read the notes refering to the two versions of the register in the section 'What information is on the register' below.

When you send us your 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.

We will also tell the Electoral Registration Officer of your old address that you have moved, so that your name can be removed from that register. People who live at two homes (including students) are allowed to register at both.

There are special rules about names being added to the voter's list during an election period. Because of these you may not be able to vote at that election if you are added during this time.

What are the deadlines for electoral registration?

What information is on the register?

Only the names and addresses of electors are included in the register and are compiled in address order by polling district and ward.

The Electoral Registration Officer makes and keeps two versions of the register - the full register and the edited register.

The full register lists the name and address of everyone who is registered to vote. The Council holds a copy. Anyone can look at it, but it is a criminal offence to supply or use copies for purposes other than those set down by law.

The main use of the full register is to show who can vote in elections and referendums. Credit reference agencies can use it, but only to check your name and address if you are applying for credit and other purposes specified in law. It can also be used for law enforcement.

The edited register is available for general sale and can be used for any purpose. The edited register can be bought by any person, company or organisation and can be used for commercial activities such as marketing.

Electors can choose whether or not they appear on the edited register.

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