Registering to vote

To be able to vote in elections, you need to be registered to vote.

The register of electors is a list of all those residents in Rushmoor, who are eligible to vote in elections.

By law, if you are eligible, you have to be registered to vote, even if you don't vote. It's also important if you ever want credit - even a mobile phone - as credit agencies will check if you're on the register of electors.

You can get more information, find out how to check if you're on the register of electors and how to remove a name from it on our Register of electors page.

Registering to vote

We publish a new register of electors once a year following a canvass of electors.  You can, however, register to vote at any time following its publication, as we update the electoral roll monthly.

• Between July - October - see the Annual canvass section below 
• After 16 October - see the Rolling registration section below
• Just before an election - see the Once an election has been called section below

Just because you're on the council tax register doesn't mean you are on the register of electors, as the two lists contain different information.

To be able to register you must be:

• Over 16 (although you cannot vote until you are 18)
• A British or commonwealth citizen or a citizen of the Irish Republic or other EU member state

Full details are included on the  Register to vote application form [134kb].

Rolling registration

You can apply to be included on the electoral roll by downloading and filling in a  Registering to vote application form [134kb].

Once you've filled in the form, send it back to us and we will add you to the new applicant list. You must sign against your details - no-one can sign on your behalf.

As long as no-one objects to your name appearing on the register of electors for the address you give, we will add you to it when we update it. We update the register of electors on the first working day of each month - see the When you will appear on the register section below, for more details.

We will let you know when we have added your name to the register of electors and also if anyone has objected to your name being included on it.

Annual canvass

Each year, we send a registration form to every household in Aldershot and Farnborough asking them to register anyone who is eligible to vote and anyone who will become 18 in the coming year,or to confirm details that are pre-printed on the form.

We update all electors' details during the annual canvas period so we can publish the new register of electors.

This year, the canvass will start at the beginning of July when we will hand deliver a form to your home. If you need to register to vote during this period, just complete the form and send it back to us.

If you have not received your form by the end of August, please contact us.

Once an election has been called

Once an election has been called, you will be able to register up until 11 working days before the election day. To do this, download the  Voter Registration Form [134kb], fill it in and send it back to us.

We will acknowledge all forms five working days before the election day. If you do not receive this acknowledgment, please contact us immediately, or you may lose your right to vote.

When you will appear on the register

Changing your name or address after you've registered to vote

If you move home or change your name after you have registered to vote, please let us know.

If you move, you need to fill in a new  Registering to vote application form [134kb].

If you change your name, you need to contact us so we can send you an amendment to the register of electors form.

Registering to vote if you live abroad

If you are a British Citizen, but live outside the UK, you can still register to vote and then vote in Parliamentary and European Parliamentary elections.

To do so, you must meet one of the following sets of conditions:

Either all of the following:

• Your name was previously on a register of electors for an address in the UK
• You were living in the UK on the relevant qualifying date for that register of electors
• That date is less than 15 years ago

Or all of the following:

• You last lived in the UK less than 15 years ago
• You were too young to be on the register of electors when you left the UK
• Your parent or guardian was on the register of electors at your home in UK
• You are now at least 18 years old or will become 18 during the life of the register of electors

You can apply online on the Electoral Commission's About my vote website.

If you change your name, you need to contact us so we can send you an 'amendment to the register of electors' form.

Registering to vote if you are in the armed forces

If you are in the armed forces, or the spouse of someone who is, you can:

• Register to vote as an ordinary voter at your home address using the  Register to vote application form [134kb]; or
• If you don't want to disclose your address on the electoral roll, you can apply online on the Electoral Commission's About my vote website. If you do this, it will give you registration for up to five years. We have a duty to remind you to re-register before your five years comes to an end

If you are a crown servant or an employee of the British Council, you can apply through your department, which will then pass your details onto us. You can also apply online on the Electoral Commission's About my vote.