Electoral Registration

• Service Information
• Frequently Asked Questions

The Electoral Services office is responsible for the compilation and continual maintenance of the Register of Electors. The register holds the names of all those eligible to vote and is used for conducting elections, there are currently around 105,000 electors registered to vote in Torbay.

If your name is not on the register you will not be able to vote. You may also have difficulty when applying for credit if your name is not on the register.

Register to Vote - The Annual Canvass

The register is updated every year during the annual canvass using the details from the registration form you receive every autumn from us.

An annual form is sent to every property in August  The form asks for details of who will be resident at the property on the national qualifying date of 15th October. This is known as the annual canvass. The annual form may be returned by post or you may be able to use the telephone or internet to register.

The information received from the return of these forms is published on 1st December each year. You can check the edited version of the register at the Connections Offices and Torquay library.

Moved house since 15 October?

You need to tell the Electoral Services office you have moved even if you have contacted the council tax department.

A change in legislation in February 2001 brought along "rolling registration". This means that we can update the electoral register on a monthly basis so if you move after the annual canvass you need to tell us. We will then send you a rolling registration form which you need to complete in order for us to register you at your new address. You can alternatively print off the registraton form below, complete it and send it back to us. You do not need to tell your old council if you have moved out of the area as we will do that for you.

Remember, you can only vote in elections if your name is on the register of electors for your area.