The Electoral Register
The electoral register is a record of everyone who lives within Waltham Forest who is eligible to vote at elections.
Edited Register/Opting Out
I do not want my personal details to appear on the register what should I do?
The FULL register lists everyone who is entitled to vote. Only certain people and organisations can have a copy of the full register. The EDITED register leaves out the names and addresses of people who have asked for their name to remain confidential. The edited register is available for general sale and can be used for commercial activities such as marketing.
Your name and address will appear on the full register automatically when you register, unless you choose, you can opt out of the Edited Register on your application form.
Before you register to vote, you need to find out whether you are eligible to vote.
To vote in an election you must fulfil certain requirements and your name must be on the electoral register.
Everyone who votes must be:
- 18 years of age or over on polling day Resident in the UK
- On the electoral register
- Not subject to any legal incapacity to vote
- A British citizen, a qualifying Commonwealth citizen or a citizen of the Republic of Ireland
Please click here for a list of Commonwealth countries, British Overseas Territories, and EU member states whose citizens are eligible to register to vote in the UK.
Members of HM Forces and their spouses, and Crown servants employed outside the United Kingdom can vote in elections.
EU citizens
If you are a European Union citizen and not a British, Irish or qualifying Commonwealth citizen, you can vote in the Local and Mayoral Elections. You cannot vote in the General Election.
Overseas electors
If you are an overseas elector, you can vote in the General Election. You cannot vote in the Local and Mayoral Elections. You can choose to have your ballot paper sent to you overseas. However, it will only be sent out one or two weeks before an election, therefore, in order to ensure your vote is counted you are strongly advised to vote by proxy. For more information please visit the
You can visit your local public library to check the Electoral Register to see if you are registered to vote.
If you cannot find your name on the Register, or if you have recently moved into the Borough, you can complete an Electoral Registration Form. This asks for details of:
A separate form needs to be completed by each person who must also sign his or her own form.
Please print the form out, complete it and send it to the address on the form.
- Electoral registration form (54KB PDF file)
- Electoral registration form (453KB Word file)
Why you should register to vote
- It gives you a say on important issues that affect you
- If you don’t register, you can’t vote
- It gives you a say on who represents you in your local council, in the UK Parliament and in Europe
- Elections can be called at short notice, and if you’re not registered you won’t be able to vote
- Across the world people have died fighting for the right to vote and be part of a democracy
- Because it’s easier than you think
Certificate of inclusion on the Electoral Register
The Electoral Services Section can provide you with a certificate to show that you are included on the Electoral Register at a specific address.
The Electoral Services Section can provide you with a certificate to show that you are included on the Electoral Register at a specific address.
The Certificate takes the form of a letter confirming that the person(s) named on the Certificate is/are on the register at the stated address for the specified period. A certificate can only be produced for the person registered at that address, not a third party.
Please contact the Electoral Services Section first to confirm that you are/were shown on the Register for the period(s) the Certificate is to cover.
The costs for this service are for:
- 1 year: £10
- 2-5 years: £30
Sale of the Elector Register
The Electoral Register can be sold as a full or edited register.
Electoral Services - charges 2012
Full registers - Published 1 December 2012
| Type | Charge |
|---|---|
| *In data format (183,224 electors) | Price on application |
| *Paper copy | Price on application |
| Overseas electors register in data format (21 electors) | Price on application |
| Overseas electors register in paper copy | Price on application |
| Each monthly update on data (£193.50 for the year) | Price on application |
| Each monthly update on paper (£135.00 for the year) | Price on application |
| Copy of street index | Price on application |
Edited Registers – Published 1 December 2010
| Type | Charge |
|---|---|
| *In data format (102,912 electors) | Price on application |
| *Paper copy | Price on application |
| Type | Cost |
|---|---|
| One year registration confirmation letter (voter) | Price on application |
| NB: Charges for items below are payable in advance |
|
| One year commercial company/solicitor/lawyer charge | Price on application |
| Up to 5 years back search & confirmation letter (voter) | Price on application |
| Back search & confirmation letter (commercial companies) | Price on application |
| 6 – 10 years back search & confirmation letter (voter) | Price on application |
| Over 10 years up to 25 years (voter). Over 25 years POA | Price on application |
| Each A4 page photocopying | Price on application |
| Certificate of Life or forms requiring LBWF stamp |
Price on application |
* Prices include relevant handling charges. Postage incurs an additional charge
Notice of Alterations
Electoral Services issues a monthly update called a List of Alterations. These are published every month except October and November. The December List is the next full Register of Electors. The list of alterations is available for public inspection during normal office hours at libraries or Walthamstow Town Hall.
| If we get your form by 5pm on: | Your details will be changed on: |
|---|---|
| Tuesday 11 December 2012 | Wednesday 2 January 2013 |
| Thursday 10 January 2013 | Friday 1 February 2013 |
| Thursday 7 February 2013 | Friday 1 March 2013 |
| Monday 11 March 2013 | Tuesday 2 April 2013 |
| Tuesday 9 April 2013 | Wednesday 1 May 2013 |
| Friday 10 May 2013 | Monday 3 June 2013 |
Friday 7 June 2013
|
Monday 1 July 2013
|
Certificate of Life
We can also provide "Certificates of Life" for pensioners who receive a war pension from abroad where a form requires an official body to confirm that the person in receipt of the payment is still alive.
If you want to use this service, please call in to our office along with your passport. Once we have checked you are on our register, we will stamp the form to confirm that we have seen you. The charge for this service is £5.00. Where possible please provide an English Translation of the document.
