Who can't vote?

The quick answer is "anyone not already on the electoral register". It is now too late to register to vote. There are also people who cannot vote in General Elections.

• members of the House of Lords (although they can vote at elections to local authorities, devolved legislatures and the European Parliament)


• EU citizens resident in the UK (although they can vote at elections to local authorities, devolved legislatures and the European Parliament)


• anyone other than British, Irish and qualifying Commonwealth citizens


• convicted persons detained in pursuance of their sentences (though remand prisoners, unconvicted prisoners and civil prisoners can vote if they are on the electoral register)


• anyone found guilty within the previous five years of corrupt or illegal practices in connection with an election

Registering to Vote

Tomorrow is the last day for registering to vote in the 2010 General Election. In the UK, in theory, everyone should be registered. Every year the Electoral Registration Officer for the area (usually the District/Borough Council) sends to every residential property a form which the head of household is required to fill in and return. Failure can result in a fine of up to £1000. In practice a number of people fail to return their forms. Electoral Registration Officers do seek to chase up unreturned forms - and much effort is put into getting as accurate an electoral roll as possible. However this is an impossible task. People move homes during the year. It is now possible to have your name added after the annual canvass (hence tomorrow's cut off date), but registration is often not the first priority. Some people try to avoid being registered - out of fear that they may be traced by creditors or others. The Poll Tax of the late 1980s encouraged many people to get into the habit of not registering.

When the register is published, it comes in two forms. "Anyone can look at the full version of the register under supervision but it can only be passed on for certain purposes. These are electoral purposes, law enforcement and by credit reference agencies. Use by credit reference agencies is only to check your name and address if you are applying for credit and to help stop money laundering." A partial version can be bought by anyone and used for any purpose - but "you can choose not to be on it by ticking the opt out box on registration form."

In the UK you register as an elector - but do not, as in the US, have the option of registering as a voter for a particular party. In the US this is important for determining eligibility for voting in primaries.

Only people on the electoral register can vote - and unless you have a postal vote - you may only vote at the specified polling station (which is why it is important to advise the Electoral Registration Officer of a change of address).

For further information you can access the Electoral Commission's website about the electoral register here.

If you haven't yet registered go to this site now. Tuesday 20th April is the last day!!!

Missing Voters

In the UK voter registration is compulsory - and should be close to complete coverage as is possible. However there are a number of reasons why some people are not registered. Once a year all residential propeties should be sent a form for completition by one member of the household for everyone in that living unit. In areas of high turnover this may be overlooked - or the property occupied after the 'survey'.

In a recent written answer the House of Commons was told that the Electoral Commission's 2005 report, Understanding Electoral Registration, contains the most recent national estimate for non-registration for England and Wales. The percentage of the eligible household population not on the register at 15 October 2000 was estimated to be between 8 per cent. and 9 per cent., which was equivalent to approximately 3.5 million people.

Voter Registration

In the United States the rules for voter registration vary by state. In many areas it is now too late to register to vote in this year's November elections. Information on voter registration can be found on the websites of a State's Board of Elections (or equivalent).

An example of an american voter registration form can be viewed at http://www.spotsylvania.va.us/emplibrary/VirginiaVoterRegistrationApplication.pdf

The onus is on the individual voter to register - there is no legal obligation to do so - and a major part of the work of party campaigners and others this year has been to persuade people to register. When I was in Maryland during the 2006 election I visited a university campus and there were a number of voter registration stalls set up for students to register, including one by the main bus stop.

In the United Kingdom a form is sent to each household once a year, and this form must be completed and returned (failure to do so can lead to a fine - though I've never heard of this happening). Councils should make every effort to chase up unreturned forms and actively seek to promote registration. However, particularly in areas where there are high turnovers of population - full registration is never achieved.

A website allows British citizens to register: http://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/how_do_i_vote/registering_to_vote.aspx