The Way You Register to Vote

Our council is placing everyone in the open register. I can't see any reason to change it. If Scottish Power can phone my brand new mobile after I entered one on-line competition and gave that number, I don't mind who buys my details. I asked the Scottish Power sales lady how she got my number and she said it was on their database. My word, that was quick!

This letter seems to be step one in the individual registration process. There was a piece about it on The Daily Politics today and, although I am a bit of a politics geek, much of it had passed me by. I looked it up and found this on the Electoral Commission site:

^Previously, one person in every household was responsible for registering everyone else who lives at that address. Under individual electoral registration, each person is now required to register to vote individually, rather than by household.

Under Individual Electoral Registration you need to provide 'identifying information', such as your date of birth and national insurance number, when applying to register and your application will need to be verified before you are added to the register. Anyone unable to supply this information can provide an alternative form of evidence of their identity.^

The only additional thing I gathered from the DP item was that previously Universities used to sign up student (in bulk?) and now they will have to do it individually.

If anyone has more insight into this I would love to know.

(Just previewed this and the italics don't seem to work - sorry)

Nonnie, different councils may be acting differently. We were definitely not on the open register before, but will be placed on it annually from now on unless we ask to be removed from it.

Our council has taken the view that they will place everyone on the open register every year regardless of what register they were on before because otherwise they may face legal action from businesses who may challenge them on this.
I am beginning to think that this is piffle and more a moneymaking exercise.

I think we are all classified according to what we were previously.

I am more concerned though that people may eventually be registered to vote at more than one address. When moving there will be so many things to consider will we remember to remove ourselves from the list? I would like to think that as soon as I stop paying council tax that will trigger removal but somehow don't trust that the two will be linked. Same goes for wherever I might move to, will I remember to register?

Got my letter today and pleased to see that my council have taken the view of honouring previous opt outs. So I only have to do something if I want to be on the Open Register. It seems strange that different councils can make different decision.

DD2 used to work in marketing and she told me a few years ago that new rules meant that that you had to opt IN ( ie tick the box) to agree to your details being passed on to a 3rd party, so I was very surprised that this does does not apply to the electoral register. Obviously big business has brought pressure to bear - I can't see how this has happened and thought this was not legal. Probably find that money talks and councils are always eager to find new sources of revenue.

It is a pain, I resent having to stop my name and address or medical records for example being sold on - surely it ought to be assumed the public don't want information about them sold on, or made public.

rosequartz Oh dear, that's set me off moaning again! What a pain in the posterior... but thank you for the warning!

You will have to do it every year, Joy!

Had my letter a few days ago and was very annoyed to read that my name was on the Open Register and that it was up to me to get in touch with them if I wanted it removed. Rang them and said I wanted to be removed and letter came this morning confirming I had been taken off. Feel very grumpy that I had go to this trouble... but seem to spend more and more time moaning so will shut up now and go and water my geraniums.

Just had a reply from the Electoral Registration Officer in response to my query. Part of his helpful reply was this:

Previous practice by the council was to carry over the choice of an electors ‘opt out’ status for the life of their registration. However, recent reviews of legislation and threats of legal actions by companies who benefit from the data, deemed that practice illegal and that every time an elector is renewed on the electoral roll (i.e annually upon receipt of the registration form/confirmation letter) that the elector must re-apply to remove their details from the open register.

So we have to request to be removed from the open register annually.

thanks for this, I'm about to fill mine in

DH and I each received a letter from local council saying that because of our requests when we re registered we have been taken off of the Open register. I am sure we were not on it before but it is worth making sure for peace of mind .

Not had ours yet, but I'll certainly be reading the small print - thanks, rosequartz.

Oh, that is a surprise!

We had definitely opted out of being on an open register before!

I received my letter this afternoon telling me that I have been automatically re- registered but more importantly that I am not on the "open register" which could be sold. At least I do not have to take any further action. It was well written and easy to understand.

You're welcome, Pittcity. Of course, the letter from the County Council emphasises that you don't need to do anything else ..... because they want to sell our information!

No reply from our Council as yet.

I have followed the link in the OP and registered myself and DH again just to be sure we are not on the open list. Thanks for bringing it to our attention rosequartz

Oh, I was looking for a 'bump' heading.

Bump

Oh, how do I do that Ana?

Or we could just keep bumping the thread up so it stays near the top and more people are likely to read it when they come in.

Surely this is not legal? To abitrarily change our previous request for our details NOT to be passed on to third parties to putting our details on an open list available for purchase without our permission should not be allowed to happen.

Have asked for advice from GN about whether this is the correct forum for this.

I'm here!

Thank you for bringing it up, I have received a letter but must confess I haven't done anything as yet.

I think it would be a good idea to speak to HQ and get them to somehow bring it to everyone's attention. Not quite sure how though.

As this has only attracted a response from Charleygirl, and I think it is important, I am wondering what to do next. Perhaps bring it to the attention of GN? Or put it on another thread.