How to register and vote at elections

You can register to vote if

You can register to vote if you are:

• 16 years old or over (you can only vote once you are 18)
• a citizen of Britain, Irish Republic, the Commonwealth or a European member state
• living at an address in Wiltshire

Special arrangements for registering to vote

Information on how to vote if you are in any of the following circumstances:

• You are a student and you have two addresses (opens new window)
• You live or work abroad (opens new window)
• if you're in the armed forces (opens new window)
• if you are a Crown servants and British Council employees (opens new window)
• if you have no fixed address (opens new window)
• if you're a prisoner on remand (opens new window)
• anonymously (opens new window) if you're in danger

More details about registering to vote can be found on Electoral commission: voter (opens new window).

Register to vote (opens new window)

After you've applied

We will confirm that your electoral registration has been successful by email or by post. If we need further information to complete your application or we cannot verify your application because you have not provided your national insurance number or birth date we will contact you to request this information.

To verify your identity, you may be asked to provide evidence such as a passport, driving licence or utility bill. This is known as documentary evidence.

Electoral Registration deadlines

Rolling registration means that you can register to vote at any time of the year.

If you wish to register to vote for an election in your area you can register up to 12 working days before polling day to be included on the register.

Outside of elections the electoral register is published on the first working day of the month.

The Electoral Register and the Open Register 

There are 2 kinds of electoral register. 

The Electoral Register

The Electoral Register lists the names and addresses of everyone who is registered to vote and it is only used for voting.

It may be also used for limited purposes that are specified in law which as the prevention and detection of crime, calling people for jury service and checking credit applications. It is a criminal offence for anyone to supply or use the electoral register for anything else. 

The Open Register

The Open Register lists the names and addresses of the electors on the open register only. The open register is an extract of the electoral register but it is not used for elections. The open register can be purchased by any person, company or organisation. For example it is used by businesses and charities to confirm name and address details.

Your name and addresses will be included on the open register unless you opt out. You check if you are on the open register or ask to be removed at any time by contacting us by post or openregister@wiltshire.gov.uk (opens new window). Please provide your full name and address and state that you wish to be removed from the open register.

If you wish to purchase a copy of the open register, email registerrequests@wiltshire.gov.uk (opens new window) and include the electoral area you would like to purchase for a quote. The cost of purchasing the open register is set down in law.

Public Inspection of the Electoral Register

Anyone is able to go and view the paper copy of the current electoral register and it's subsequent updates. Registers are available for inspection under supervision at our three main Council offices: 

• County Hall, Trowbridge, BA14 8JN
• Bourne Hill, Salisbury, SP1 3UZ
• Monkton Mark, Chippenham, SN15 1ER