This web page gives guidance on the Register of Electors, and contains the following information:
The following information may also be of interest to you:
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If you want to vote in local and national elections it is important that you make sure you are on the Register now.
By law you must include your name on the Register even if you do not intend to vote.
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Any British, Commonwealth, Irish or European Union citizen should be included on the Register of Electors.
This includes:
The following people should not be included on the form:
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The Government has now changed the law so that you have some choice about the use of your personal information. Under the changes, there will now be two versions of the register: a full version and an edited version.
The full register lists everyone who is entitled to vote. Anyone can look at it, but you cannot have a photocopy of the register, you can only make notes whilst supervised by a member of staff. You can check it by calling at the Elections Office at the Town Hall.
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 such persons and purposes is given in the Representation of the People (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2002. It is a criminal offence for them to pass it on to anyone else to use it for any other purpose.
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 who asks for a copy and they may use it for any purpose.
The edited register can be used for any purpose and for example can be bought by any person, company or organisation and used for used for marketing. You can choose not to be on this version of the register.
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Only those people whose names are included on the electoral register are entitled to vote so it is definitely in your interests to get on to the register and to stay on it. As soon as you move into Hastings and St Leonards or from one address to another within the Borough, you can have your name transferred to the register for your new address.
You will find a Voter Registration Form here. Simply print it out, fill it in and post it. You cannot fill in this form electronically; we need a signature from you.
You can return it by post or fax or personal visit to the Electoral Registration Office at Hastings Town Hall..
If we receive a properly completed form ten working days or more before the first of the month, you will be registered at your new address as of the first of the following month. For example:
Last Date for Receipt of your form: Tuesday 11 December 2007
Date you appear on the register: Wednesday 2 January 2008
Last Date for Receipt of your form: Thursday 10 January 2008
Date you appear on the register: Friday 1 February 2008
Last Date for Receipt of your form: Friday 8 February 2008
Date you appear on the register: Monday 3 March 2008
Last Date for Receipt of your form: Monday 10 March 2008
Date you appear on the register: Tuesday 1 April 2008
Last Date for Receipt of your form: Wednesday 9 April 2008
Date you appear on the register: Thursday 1 May 2008
Last Date for Receipt of your form: Friday 9 May 2008
Date you appear on the register: Monday 2 June 2008
Last Date for Receipt of your form: Monday 9 June 2008
Date you appear on the register: Tuesday 1 July 2008
Last Date for Receipt of your form: Thursday 10 July 2008
Date you appear on the register: Friday 1 August 2008
Last Date for Receipt of your form: Friday 8 August 2008
Date you appear on the register: Monday 1 September 2008
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The full and edited registers are published at the beginning of December and the full register is updated every month. Rolling registration for monthly changes to the register start again from December, with the first update being published at the beginning of January. All new electors registering will be asked to choose whether they wish to appear on the edited version of the register.
Both registers are available for inspection at the Town Hall
Please contact us to book an appointment to see the full register.
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If you are studying away from home, you can register to vote at both your home and term time addresses.
People who are listed on the Register of Electors and are under 70 years of age may be asked to do Jury Service at any time.
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The following form and accompanying Notes are presented in Adobe .PDF format
You may find it useful to read our Help before downloading information.
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Please contact us for further information or advice about the Register of Electors or registering to vote.
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This page last updated: 18/12/2007