Elections - electoral register
The Register of Electors is a record of everyone who lives within the boundaries of the local authority and who is eligible to vote at elections. This must be kept in two versions, full which includesall electors and edited which only includes those electors who have given permission for their details to be on the list. The edited version may be sold commercially.
How do I register?
You can only vote if your name appears on the Register of Electors. You can register to vote if you reside in the Borough, are 17 or over (you will be able to vote when you are 18) and are of British, Irish, EU or Commonwealth nationality. We update the register every year when an electoral registration form (also called an annual canvass form) is sent to every household in August/September. If you have not received an annual canvass form during this time please contact the helpline Tel No. 01289 301720. A new register is published on 1 December, and is based on residence at an address on 15 October.
Between December and August the register is updated monthly. If you have changed address since completing your annual canvass form, moved into the Borough or your name does not appear on the register at all, you can complete a Rolling Registration Form to have your name added to the register. The form must be signed by each person applying to be added to the register.
Names cannot be added to the register immediately. The law specifies when the register can be updated as outlined below:
If we get the form before…. |
Your details will be changed on….. |
Thursday, 11 December 2007 |
Wednesday, 02 January 2008 |
Thursday, 10 January 2008 |
Friday, 01 February 2008 |
Friday, 08 February 2008 |
Monday, 03 March 2008 |
Monday, 10 March 2008 |
Tuesday, 01 April 2008 |
Wednesday, 09 April 2008 |
Thursday, 01 May 2008 |
Friday, 09 May 2008 |
Monday, 02 June 2008 |
Monday, 09 June 2008 |
Tuesday, 01 July 2008 |
Thursday, 10 July 2008 |
Friday, 01 August 2008 |
Friday, 08 August 2008 |
Monday, 01 September 2008 |
There are two versions of the register.
The full register can be inspected at the Council Offices, but you can only get a copy of it for certain purposes, for example, elections, law enforcement and credit checks.
The edited register can be bought by anyone and they can use if for any purpose. You can choose not to have your details included on the edited register by marking the box on the electoral registration form.
Who can see the electoral register?
The Register of Electors is a public document, so anyone is allowed to see it. This is to make sure that everyone who is entitled to vote has been included and nobody who is not entitled to vote is on the register. This is important to help protect the electoral system against fraud and abuse. You can look at the full Register of Electors at the Council Offices. The edited Register of Electors is available for inspection at Berwick, Seahouses and Wooler libraries.
Registering twice
You can register for more than one address 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 can also register for two addresses if you have a second home and live there regularly.
Both students and those with a second home have the right to vote in respect of both addresses at the time of a local election but must choose only one address to vote in respect of when Parliamentary elections are held.
Purchasing the Register of Electors
The cost of the register for a paper copy is £10 plus £5 per 1,000 names. The cost in data format is £20 plus £1.50 per 1,000 names. The total cost payable will depend on how many names appear on the register for the area a person is purchasing. This can range from the largest area being the whole of the Borough of Berwick-upon-Tweed to the smallest being a Parish within the Borough.
The cost of the full register is the same as for the edited register. The cost is set out in the "Representation of the People" Acts and is the same across the United Kingdom.
For further information, please contact the Help Line at 01289 301720, e-mail jat@berwick-upon-tweed.gov.uk , use our general Request Form or contact us by post:
Electoral Services
Berwick-upon-Tweed Borough Council
Council Offices
Wallace Green
Berwick-upon-Tweed
TD15 1ED
Fax: 01289 330540
'The Council for the County of Northumberland Elections'
Proceeding |
Day |
Notice of election to be published |
Thursday 27 th March |
Last day for political parties to remove or change existing registered descriptions for the election |
Thursday 27 th March |
Last day for new political parties to register |
Wednesday 2 nd April |
Delivery of nomination papers |
During the days and times specified in the notice of election but not later than NOON on Friday 4 th April |
Last day for registered political parties to add descriptions for use at the election |
Not later than noon on Friday 4 th April |
Publish statement as to persons nominated |
Not later than noon on Tuesday 8 th April |
Last day for withdrawals of candidature |
Not later than noon on Wednesday 9 th April |
Last day for notice of appointment of election agents |
Not later than noon on Wednesday 9 th April |
Last day for requests for a new postal vote, or to change or cancel an existing absent vote facility |
Not later than 5pm on Wednesday 16 th April |
Deadline for applications to be included in the register of electors to be used for the election |
Wednesday 16 th April |
Earliest issue of postal ballot papers |
After 5pm on Wednesday 16 th April |
Last day for new applications to vote by proxy (except: postal proxies and medical emergencies) |
Not later than 5pm on Wednesday 23 rd April |
Last day to publish notice of poll |
Wednesday 23 rd April |
Publish notice of alteration of register as result of late applications |
Thursday 24 th April |
Last day for notice of appointment of counting agents and polling agents |
Not later than Thursday 24 th April |
First day to issue ballot papers in response to requests to replace lost postal ballot papers |
Friday 25 th April |
Polling day |
Thursday 1 st May (Polling hours: 7am to 10pm) |
Last day to issue replacement spoilt or lost postal ballot papers |
Not later than 5pm on polling day |
Last day for new applications to vote by proxy on grounds of a medical emergency |
Not later than 5pm on polling day |
Last day to make alterations to the register to correct a clerical error or to implement a court (registration appeal) decision |
Not later than 9pm on polling day |
Last day for the receipt of return of election expenses if declaration is before midnight on polling day |
Friday 6 th June |
Last day for the receipt of return of election expenses if declaration is after midnight on polling day (but before the next day) |
Saturday 7 th June |
NOTES
Unless stated otherwise, the deadline on each day is midnight
There is no statutory provision which specifically sets the first day when nominations may be delivered; this is determined by the dates and times the Returning Officer states in the notice of election. It seems to be widespread practice for it to be the day following publication of that notice.
To view the notice of Polls for the above election, please select the link below.
http://www.northumberlandcouncil.gov.uk/new/elections.asp
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