Registering to vote

In order to vote at any election held in Woking, you must be on the electoral register.

The electoral register is compiled every year to produce an accurate list of people's names who are eligible to vote at elections held in this country. Although you may choose not to vote, you are required by law to register. If you are not on the electoral register you will not be able to vote.

Who can register to vote?

To get on the electoral register in Woking, you must be:

British, Irish, a citizen of a British Dependent Territory, a citizen of another Commonwealth Country or a citizen of a European Union Member State;
16 years old or over (you can vote as from your 18th Birthday).

If you are not eligible, you are still required by law during the annual canvass to complete the canvass form stating "NO ONE ELIGIBLE" in the name section of the form.

How and when can I register?

Annual Canvass

The annual canvass lasts from mid August to 30 November each year and is based on where you live on 15 October. Household registration forms are sent to every property in the borough and information collected from these forms is used to produce the electoral register published on the first working day in December. Please note that the electoral register is a separate record from the council tax list, therefore paying council tax does not automatically register you to vote.

If you miss registering under the annual canvass, you can still complete a rolling registration form. A revised register will be published on 1 December 2009.

More information about the annual canvass is available.

Rolling Registration

Under 'rolling registration' individuals can register to vote between December and early August each year. These amendments to the register are published on a monthly basis.

A copy of the rolling registration form is available to download and complete. The deadlines for each monthly update to the register are as follows:

If we get your form before ...	Your details will be changed on ...
Friday, 11 December 2009	Monday, 4 January 2010
Friday, 8 January 2010	Monday, 1 February 2010
Friday, 5 February 2010	Monday, 1 March 2010
Wednesday, 10 March 2010	Thursday, 1 April 2010
Monday, 12 April 2010*	Tuesday, 4 May 2010*
Monay, 10 May 2010	Tuesday, 1 June 2010
Wednesday, 9 June 2010	Thursday, 1 July 2010
Friday, 9 July 2010	Monday, 2 August 2010
Tuesday, 10 August 2010	Wednesday, 1 September 2010

* Please note that if there is an election in your ward in May 2010, the final day to register is eleven days before the election.

Who has access to the electoral register?

The Electoral Registration Officer maintains two versions of the electoral register - the full register and the edited register. An explanation of the two types of register is available.

The full electoral register can be inspected, under supervision, at the Civic Offices, Gloucester Square, Woking.

Frequently asked questions

Answers to your frequently asked questions are now available.

For further information, please contact Woking Borough Council on 01483 755855 or email elections@woking.gov.uk.