Elections - Register to Vote

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I register?
How do I get my name on the Electoral Register?
How can I view the register?

Electoral Registration

By law, the Council has to maintain an electoral register which is a list of everyone in the Borough of Great Yarmouth who is entitled to vote. To be eligible to vote you must be a British, Irish, other Commonwealth or European Union citizen (although European Union citizens are not eligible to vote at Parliamentary elections).

It is important to remember that anyone who does not register as an elector will be unable to vote at any elections or referendums which occur while they remain unregistered. Council Tax is a separate register; therefore, even if you pay council tax it does not necessarily mean that you are registered to vote. You should contact the electoral registration section to ensure that you are registered.

Registering to Vote

You can add your name to the register of electors at any time throughout the year. When you send us a completed, signed registration form we will add your name to our list of new electors, assuming you qualify. You can either telephone the helpline for a form or download a form here.

If you do not register then you cannot vote in any election, It is also much harder to obtain credit if you are not on the register.

Viewing the Register

We hold and publish two versions of the register - the full register and the edited register.

The Full Register

The full register lists everyone who is entitled to vote. Only certain people and organisations can have copies of the full register and they can only use it for specified purposes. These include electoral purposes, the prevention and detection of crime and checking your identity when you have applied for credit.

The law says who can have a copy of the full register and what they can use it for. The full list of people able to see it, and for what purposes, is given in the Representation of the People (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2002 (available from the Office of Public Sector Information)

It is a criminal offence for them to pass it on to anyone else or to use it for any other purpose. The full register can be checked at the Town Hall, Great Yarmouth. However, anyone checking the full register must be supervised and they may only make hand written notes.

Anyone wishing to make an extended search should telephone 01493 846548 to make appropriate arrangements.

The edited register

The edited register leaves out the names and addresses of people who have asked for them to be excluded from that version of the register. The edited register can be bought by anyone and it may be used for any purpose.

A copy of the edited register is available at the reception desk at the Town Hall, Great Yarmouth.