Frequently Asked Questions

Registration

Who is eligible to register to vote?

I have changed my address within the UK, what do I need to go?

You need to register to vote each time that you move address.

I have changed my nationality and I am now eligible to vote. What do I do?

You will need to re-register to vote to update your change of nationality.

Can I send completed application forms and copies of evidence digitally?

Yes, completed application forms can be emailed to ourselves at elections@southandvale.gov.uk. To ensure your application is processed correctly, please send just one application form per file (i.e. scan each form separately). We only need the application part of the form, we do not need the information sheet or covering letter.

I do not live at a permanent address in the UK.  How do I register?

This depends on your circumstances.  Please see below for the different options when registering to vote.

I live overseas

If you spend more than six months of the year abroad, then you should register online as an overseas elector using the register to Vote website.

You can choose to vote by either post or proxy. We advise overseas electors to choose a proxy vote as there can be a short time between the ballot papers being sent out and them needing to be returned in time to be counted. This is because the nominations must be finalised before ballot papers can be printed.

You can find further information regarding overseas registration at Your Vote Matters.

I am in the armed forces

You can register as a service voter if you are a member of the armed forces, or the spouse or civil partner of someone in the armed forces.

You have the choice whether to register as a service elector or ordinary elector.

The two choices depend on your own circumstances and do extend to service spouses or civil partners. By registering as a service voter you can remain registered at a fixed address for five years. Whereas registering as an ordinary elector will mean that you will need to register each time that you move.

You can vote at your polling station, by post or by proxy and you will need to decide which is the best option for you. For further information regarding registering as a service voter, you can contact your Unit’s Electoral Registration Officer and find further information regarding service voter registration at Your Vote Matters.

I have no fixed address or am homeless

You can still register to vote even if you do not have a fixed address. This may be because you are:

• a patient in a mental health hospital
• homeless
• a merchant seaman
• part of the gypsy or travelling community
• living on a boat or other movable residence
• a person remanded in custody (but not a convicted prisoner)

If you are staying at an address for an extended length of time then you can be considered as residing there and can register at that address. This could be a hospital, hostel, permanent mooring or similar place.

If you don’t have a permanent address, you can register at an address where you spend a lot of your time or have some connection. This could be a previous permanent address, shelter or similar place.

Download register to vote form (no fixed address)

Polling Day

How can I vote on polling day?

Depending on your circumstances and where you are registered, there are three ways to cast your vote. They are:

• Vote in person: This means going to the polling station to vote on polling day.
• Vote by post: This means your council will send you a postal voting pack so you can complete your ballot paper at home and return it in the post
• Vote by proxy: This is when you are unable to go to the polling station yourself so you ask a trusted person to vote on your behalf

You can find out more about each voting method by visiting the Electoral Commission website

The Electoral Register

How do I find out my elector number to complete an attestation form?

Please contact us using the details at the bottom of this page. We’ll need your full name and your address.

How do I view the Register?

Please see this page on our website for details about viewing the electoral register

Regulations in respect of viewing the Register of Electors

 In accordance with the Representation of the People (England and Wales) Regulations 2001 (as amended): 

• the Register of Electors is open to public inspection under supervision and contains the names of all those registered to vote in a certain area.
• information from the Register may be recorded only by making minimal hand written notes. Photocopying or electronic recording are not permitted by law.
• information taken from the Register must not be used for direct marketing purposes (as per Section 11(3) of the Data Protection Act 1998), unless the information has also been published in the Open version of the Register of Electors.
• under the Regulations referred to above, anyone who fails to observe these conditions is committing a criminal offence. The penalty is a fine of up to level 5 (£5000 as of 2010).

Can I view older versions of the Register?

We only hold the current version of the Register. If you would like to view historical copies then please contact the Oxfordshire History Centre. 

When do you update Credit Reference Agencies?

Credit Agencies are updated at the beginning of each month, except during canvass from September – 1 December. Please be aware that this process is subject to strict deadlines, including the date your application is received by Electoral Services and its successful verification under the IER process. The table below shows the deadlines for a successful application and the subsequent Register update.

• 11 December 2023: 2 January 2024
• 10 January 2024: 1 February 2024
• 8 February 2024: 1 March 2024
• 11 March 2024: 2 April 2024
• 9 April 2024: 1 May 2024
• 10 May 2024: 3 June 2024
• 7 June 2024: 1 July 2024
• 10 July 2024: 1 August 2024
• 9 August 2024: 2 September 2024
• 9 September 2024: 1 October 2024
• 10 October 2024: 1 November 2024

For parish clerks: I need some guidance on holding a Parish Poll, do you have anything available?

Please see our informal guidance document available here – South and Vale Parish Poll Guidance.