Moving Information
Voting
Electoral Registration for Parliamentary (English and Scottish, plus Welsh Assembly and Northern Ireland Assembly), European Assembly and local Government Elections
When resident in the UK, a member of the Armed Forces and their spouse are required by law to register as a voter. The Representation of the People Act 2000 introduced various changes to the electoral registration system from 16 February 2001. One of these was that Service personnel were no longer restricted to only registering as a Service Voter.
Options
You can register as either a Service Voter or civilian elector. Whichever option you choose, renewal or change of registration is required every year. (The children of Service personnel are not entitled to register as Service Voters).
Rolling Registration
Registers of Electors are prepared annually and are operative for a 12-month period commencing from 1 December. However, names can be added or removed at any time and individuals can now register to vote as they move to a new area. Nevertheless, the deadline for registering to vote can be up to two months before an election.
How to Register to Vote
To register as a Service Voter or a civilian elector, you need to contact the relevant Electoral Registration Officer (ERO). Personnel Service Flight (PSF) should maintain a list of EROs and addresses. Lists of EROs can be found at:
England, Wales and Northern Ireland: http://www.dca.gov.uk/elections/officeraddress
Scotland: http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/templates/search/document.cfm/13336
Find Your Authority: http://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/elections
Registration and Voting Documents
All registration and voting documents may be obtained from the relevant ERO. It is for the individual to make the necessary arrangements with their ERO. (Some unit PSF staff may hold a stock of relevant forms, but registration forms, including those to be a Service Voter, are also available on the Electoral Commission's website at:
Website: http://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/pcsearch/PcodeRequest.cfm?Chan=3
Renewal of Registration
Whether registered as a Service Voter or civilian elector, there is a requirement to renew the registration every year. Those registered as Service Voters should receive an annual reminder from their ERO, whilst others should enter their name on the Register of Electors - Canvass Form which is delivered to all households in the UK every Autumn.
Sale of Registers
There are two versions of the Electoral Register. By law, only certain people and organisations can have copies of the full Register and they can only use it for specific purposes. However, EROs also make copies of an edited Electoral Register available for sale or commercial use by anyone, who may then use it for any purpose. Those wishing to be excluded from the edited version must specifically notify this to the ERO, and renew the exclusion option annually.
Voting Methods
Your ERO will advise on circumstances and relevant forms to complete. However, depending upon how registered, basic rules are:
- Service Voters in the UK May vote in person, by post or by proxy. If you register as a postal voter you will automatically receive ballot papers for all elections.
- Service Voters Overseas If outside the UK at the time of election, you can also vote by post or through a proxy nominated by yourself who lives in the UK. However, as postal votes are usually only sent out about a week before the relevant election, Service personnel (and their spouses if accompanying them overseas) are advised before you go to appoint a proxy to vote on your behalf.
- Civilian Electors in the UK Normally vote in person, although it is possible to vote by post or proxy in certain circumstances.
- Civilian Electors Overseas Can vote by post or through a proxy living in the UK. However, unless you have registered as a Service Voter, you will of had to register as an Overseas Voter and will only be eligible to vote in UK Parliament and the European Parliament elections (not UK local or mayoral elections, or elections to the Scottish Parliament, National Assembly for Wales or London Assembly).
Links to the Electoral Commission's and ERNI websites giving information about electoral registration, elections and voting can be found at:
Website: http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk
Website: http://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk
Website: http://www.electoralofficeni.gov.uk
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