Electoral registers
There are two registers. Why?
Using information received from the public, the registration officer keeps two registers - the electoral register and the open register (previously known as the edited register).
The electoral register
The electoral register lists the names and addresses of everyone registered to vote in elections. We use the register for electoral purposes, such as making sure only eligible people can vote, and for other limited purposes specified in law. We process personal data in line with Data Protection legislation.
Who uses the electoral register?
- election staff, political parties, candidates and holders of elected office use the register for electoral purposes
- your local council and the British Library hold copies that anyone may look at under supervision. The Electoral Commission, the Boundary Commission (which set constituency boundaries for most elections) and the Office for National Statistics each hold a copy
- we can use the register for duties relating to security, enforcing the law and preventing crime. The Police and the security services can also use it for law enforcement.
- when calling people for jury service, the register is used
- government departments may buy the register from local registration officers and use it to help prevent and detect crime. They can also use it to safeguard national security, by checking the background of job applicants and employees
- credit reference agencies can buy the register. They help other organisations to check the names and addresses of people applying for credit. They also use it to carry out identity checks when trying to prevent and detect money laundering.
It is a criminal offence for anyone to supply or use the register for anything else.
Viewing the electoral register
You can look at the full version of the register under supervision. You must make an appointment first with the Elections Office. Telephone 01768 212253.
Inspection of old copies of the full register
Legal requirements mean that you can only view the current version of the full electoral register at the Penrith Town Hall.
Cumbria Archive services hold older versions of the register, you should make enquires about those registers directly to them.
Find out more about the archive at the British Library.
The open electoral register
This is an extract of the electoral register, but not used for elections. Any person, company, or organisation can buy it. For example, businesses and charities to confirm name and address details. We process personal data in the register in line with Data Protection legislation.
Your name and address is included in the open register unless you ask us to remove them. Removing your details from the open register would not affect your right to vote or obtain credit.
You can view the open register at the Town Hall at any time when the building is fully open again. The edited register can be sold to anyone requesting it on payment of the prescribed fee. The fees for sale of the open register are:
- in data format, £20 plus £1.50 for each 1,000 entries (or remaining part of 1,000 entries) in it
- in printed format, £10 plus £5.00 for each 1,000 entries (or remaining part of 1,000 entries) in it.
Who uses the open electoral register?
Users of the open register include:
- businesses checking the identity and address details of people who apply for their services, such as insurance, goods hire and property rental as well, as then they shop online
- businesses selling age-restricted goods or services, such as alcohol and gambling online, to meet the rules on verifying the age of their customers
- charities and voluntary agencies, for example, to help maintain contact information for those who have chosen to donate bone marrow and to help people separated by adoption to find each other
- charities, to help with fundraising and contacting people who have made donations
- debt-collection agencies, when tracing people who have changed address without telling their creditors
- direct marketing firms, when maintaining their mailing list
- landlords and letting agents, when checking the identity of potential tenants
- local councils, when identifying and contacting residents
- online directory firms, to help users of the websites find people, such as when reuniting friends and families
- organisations tracing and identifying beneficiaries of wills, pensions and insurance policies
- private sector firms, to verify details of job applicants.
You can choose which version of the register you wish to be on when you register. When you register, we will ask you if you want to appear on the open register.
Apply to be on the electoral register
You can apply to be included in the electoral register at any time. To do this you will need to:
When will I appear in the electoral register?
See the register to vote for cut-off dates for appearing in the electoral register.