1. What is individual electoral registration?
Previously the head of the household was responsible for registering everyone who lived at the address, now every individual is responsible for their own voter registration.
2. What is different about the new system?
As well as responsibility for your own registration, the other difference is that you will need to provide a few more details about yourself to register, these are your date of birth and national insurance number. You can find your national insurance number on your national insurance number card, on a payslip or a benefit letter for example. You can also contact Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HRMC) for a lost number at https://www.gov.uk/lost-national-insurance-number or by telephoning their helpline at 0330 200 3502.
3. Why has the system changed?
Individual Electoral Registration gives you the right and responsibility to register yourself, instead of giving the responsibility to a head of household. It encourages people to take individual responsibility for their own vote. The change will also allow more convenient methods of registration, for example, online registration. Because the new system asks you for your national insurance number and date of birth before you are added to the register, the electoral register will be more secure and more resistant to threats of electoral fraud.
4.How do I register online?
You can go www.gov.uk/register-to-vote or contact us for a registration form.
5. How can I find out more about IER?
You can find out more about IER by going to www.electoralcommission.org.uk.
