Electoral register and open register

Electoral Registration Officers use information from the public to keep two lists up to date:

the Electoral Register; and
the Open Register (also known as the edited register).

The electoral register

The electoral register lists the names and address of everyone who is registered to vote in public elections.
The register is used for electoral purposes - such as making sure only eligible people can vote - and for other limited purposes specified in law. The personal data in the register must always be processed 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.
Our local council and the British Library hold copies that anyone may look at under supervision.
A copy is held by the Electoral Commission (EC), the Boundary Commission (which set constituency boundaries for most elections) and the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Local councils 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.
The register is used when calling people for jury service.
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 (see below).
It is a criminal offence for anyone to supply or use the register for anything else.

The open (edited) register

The open register (previously known as the 'edited' register) is an extract of the electoral register, but it is not used for elections. It can be bought by any person, company or organisation. For example, it is used by businesses and charities to confirm name and address details.

The personal data in the register must always be processed in line with data-protection legislation.

Your name and address will be included in the open register unless you ask for them to be removed. Removing your details from the open register would not affect your right to vote.

Credit reference agencies and the electoral register

By law, the full electoral register can be purchased by credit reference agencies for fraud prevention.

The credit reference agencies use the electoral register to add to the credit history that they build up for a person.

This will include things such as their current and previous addresses, along with other data such as whether the person has any current or outstanding credit arrangements.

Credit checks

Banks and other organisations can contact the credit reference agencies if they have, for example, someone wishing to apply for a credit card.

They can ask the agency to check the persons credit report, which will show both their financial history and whether the person is registered at the address they have provided on their application form, before they supply them with the credit card.

These checks are in place to try to stop people committing fraud by doing things like applying for a credit card at a false address.

It is important to remember that the credit reference agencies compile their own records using the Electoral Register data supplied to them; they do not come directly to the elections team to check if someone is on the Register.

Therefore, if you are told you are not on the register following a credit check, you can contact the electoral services team by emailing elections@baberghmidsuffolk.gov.uk so we can check the current register for you.

How to view the register

The Electoral Register can be viewed by visiting our office at Endeavour House, Ipswich.

You must make an appointment in advance to view this register, in order to ensure there is someone available to supervise your viewing.

Please contact Electoral Services by emailing elections@baberghmidsuffolk.gov.uk to make your appointment.

We will aim to provide an appointment to view the register within five working days.
Please note that:

We can only provide the current year's register for inspection - once a new register is published, the previous versions are no longer available for public inspection. New registers are published on 1 December each year.
It is not permitted to take a copy or photographs of the full register, but you are welcome to make notes by hand
The register is filed by polling district then street, in alphabetical order
It is not possible to search the register electronically
It is not possible to search the open register by surname.
you will be asked to complete and sign a declaration form prior to viewing.

How to purchase the open register

You can purchase the open register by emailing Electoral Services at: elections@baberghmidsuffolk.gov.uk or by writing to Electoral Services, Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils, Endeavour House, 8 Russell Road, Ipswich IP1 2BX

The charges are set by the Government and are listed below:
Administration charge per purchase

Electronic data £20
Paper £10

Electronic data £1.50
Paper £5