Electoral Registration

ANNUAL CANVASS

During the 2008 annual canvass, a voter registration form was sent to every property in the borough.   As the annual canvass is now drawing to a close, electronic registration has ended so you will need to complete and post your form back to us immediately. This form must be received by us no later than Friday, 28th November 2008. Canvass forms returned after this date may not be processed  in time for the republished register on 1st December and your name may not appear on  the electoral register until 2nd January 2009.

Where canvass forms are returned after the deadline date of 28th November, individual registration forms will be sent out to you instead. These forms are processed monthly and names added to the register at the beginning of each month.

For more information or for help filling in the form contact the elections office on 01628 796306

THE CURRENT REGISTER OF ELECTORS

The current  Register of Electors for 2008 was published on 3rd December 2007 and remains in force until 30 November 2008.

QUALIFICATION FOR REGISTRATION DURING THE ANNUAL CANVASS PERIOD

To be included in the 2008/2009 register a person must:

• be resident at an address in the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead on the 15th October 2008.
• be a British, Irish, Commonwealth Citizen, or a citizen of the European Union.
• be aged at least 16 years of age (although only able to vote from the age of 18).

If you are a British citizen resident overseas then you can apply to be an overseas elector. As long as you were registered to vote in the UK within the last 15 years then you can register to vote from Overseas. Please contact the Elections office for application forms and advice.  

If you are a member of the British Army, the Royal Navy or the Royal Air Force, you can register as a service voter, this allows you to register at an address in the UK whilst posted abroad. Alternatively you can complete the Electoral Registration Application form and be added to the register at your home address in the UK. Please contact the Elections office  or your  'Unit Registration officer' for further advice if required. 

THE ELECTORAL REGISTER - TWO VERSIONS OF THE REGISTER

The Council is obliged to publish two versions of the Electoral Register each year on 1st December.

The full register lists everyone who is entitled to vote. Only certain people and organisations are allowed copies of the full register and they are only able to use it for specified purposes. These include:

• electoral purposes;
• crime prevention and detection;
• to enable credit reference agencies to fulfil their obligations under Money Laundering Regulations and to allow for the vetting of applicants for credit or applications which could result in granting credit.

The law specifies who may have a copy of the full register and for what purpose it can be used. It is a criminal offence for it to be passed on to anyone else or be used for any unauthorised purpose. The penalty is a fine of up to level 5 (currently £5000).

The edited register is available for general sale and can be purchased by any person, company or organisation and can be used for any purpose, including marketing. It leaves out the names and addresses of people who have asked to be excluded from that version of the Register. (i.e. ticked the opt out box on the registration form).

HOW TO APPLY TO GO ONTO THE ELECTORAL REGISTER:

During the annual canvass period (August to November) Complete your Annual Canvass Form when you receive it and return it to us in the prepaid envelope provided.

At other times of the year you can download an elector registration form from the link on this page, fill it in and return it  by post  to the elections office at the address on the form.  If you need further information, please telephone 01628 796400 or 01628 796306 or email electoral.registration@rbwm.gov.uk 

•   Application to be entered onto the Register of Electors (pdf 128kb)