Electoral Registration
Annual Canvass of Electors and Rolling Registration
You can only register if you are a British, Irish, Commonwealth or European Union citizen. If you qualify, but do not register, you cannot exercise your democratic right to vote in any election. It is also much harder to obtain credit.
Annual Canvass of Electors
The annual canvass of electors takes place in the autumn and the revised register of electors is published on 1 December. Each household will receive an annual registration form in September. This must be completed and returned even if you have recently completed a rolling registration form.
We keep two versions of the electoral register - the full and the edited. You can check the registers at the Council Offices, The Campus, Welwyn Garden City. The full register contains the names and addresses of everyone registered to vote and can only be viewed under supervision. Please contact the Electoral Service Office on 01707 357300 to arrange an appointment to view this register during normal office hours.
The edited register leaves out the names and addresses of people who have asked for them to be excluded from that version of the register. It can be bought by anyone who asks for a copy, and they may use it for any purpose. The main libraries in Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield have a copy of the edited register which may be viewed without supervision.
Rolling Registration
Rolling registration means that we can make changes to the register of electors each month between January and September.
If you are not included in the published register, all you need to do is complete a rolling registration form. Each person needs to sign the declaration against their name - someone else cannot do it for you. Please tell us where you were living before so that we can remove your name from that address.
When you send us your completed, signed form, we will add you to our list of new applications. If anyone objects to your application we will write to you.
The register is updated each month and we will write to you when your application is allowed. We will update the 2006/2007 register as follows:
| Application forms received by | Details will be changed on |
|---|---|
| 11 December 2007 | 2 January 2008 |
| 10 January 2008 | 1 February 2008 |
| 8 February 2008 | 3 March 2008 |
| 10 March 2008 | 1 April 2008 |
| 9 April 2008 | 1 May 2008 |
| 9 May 2008 | 2 June 2008 |
| 9 June 2008 | 1 July 2008 |
| 10 July 2008 | 1 August 2008 |
| 8 August 2008 | 1 September 2008 |
Moving out of the borough: December - August
If you are moving out of the Welwyn Hatfield Borough, contact your new local authority and ask for a rolling registration form. Your name will only be removed from the Welwyn Hatfield Register of Electors once we are notified by your new council that you have registered with them.
Other Categories of Electors
- British Citizens Living Overseas - If you are a British citizen living or working abroad, you may still be able to register to vote at Parliamentary elections from your last address here. If you registered to vote in the UK within the last 15 years, you can apply to be an overseas voter. If you were too young to register when you left the UK, your parent or guardian must have been registered.
- Crown Servant or Employee of the British Council - If you are working outside the UK as a Crown Servant or employee of the British Council, you can still register to vote. If you are married to a Crown Servant or British Council Employee, and are accompanying them during their employment abroad, you can also register to vote.
- Service Voter - If you or your spouse is a member of Her Majesty's armed forces - British Army, Royal Navy or Royal Airforce, you can register as an ordinary elector or make a Service Declaration. If you are based overseas, or you live in the UK but may be posted abroad at short notice, you can apply to register as a Service Voter. This allows you to be registered at an address in Great Britain while you are posted overseas.
- No Fixed Address - you can still register to vote even if you do not have a fixed address. If you are a homeless person, a mental health patient or a person remanded in custody, it is now easier for you to register to vote. You should complete a Declaration of Local Connection form.
Application forms are available at www.aboutmyvote.co.uk or from the Electoral Service Office.
If you need any further information or advice please contact:
The Electoral Service Office, Welwyn Hatfield Council, The Campus, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire AL8 6AE
E-mail: elections@welhat.gov.uk
Telephone: 01707 357300
Fax: 01707 357430