Elections - how to register

Exeter City Council

Registering for Elections in Exeter

To be eligible to vote in elections in Exeter you must be included on the Electoral Register.

There are two ways of registering to vote. Firstly you can ensure your details are included during the annual canvass of all residential properties that takes place during September, October and November.
*(Exceptionally, in 2012 due to forthcoming Police & Crime Commissioner elections, which will be held on 15 November 2012, the annual canvass will be conducted during July, August & September). Click here for further information Annual Electoral Registration Canvass. If eligible your name will then appear on the new register published on the 1st December each year (16 October for this year, * see above). If for some reason your details are missed from annual canvass form before publication of the new register, because for example you move into a property after the canvass form was returned, please contact Electoral Services.

Secondly, between 1st December (1 October for this year, * see above) and mid August each year you can update or add your details by means of the "rolling registration" process. If you have moved to Exeter or change your address within the city you can download the registration form, complete and then send to the Electoral Services office. If you change your name please contact the office for advice. Please note that changes notified to other departments at Exeter City council will not update the Electoral Register.

 Register as Elector Form [31kb]

Eligible persons

People who can register are anyone who is 18 years old or more and is a British, Irish or Commonwealth citizen (who are entitled to vote at any election) or a European national (who are entitled to vote at local elections and can vote at European Parliamentary elections subject to completion of a further form). For eligible nationalities see  Eligible Nationalities [29kb]

 For information in other languages see About my Vote

For information in audio and large print formats see About My Vote

Number of electors

To view the number of electors in Exeter Parliamentary Constituency, Exeter City Wards and Devon County Council Districts see Electoral registration statistics 2013

The electoral registers

On the 1st December (16 October this year, * see above) each year, two versions of the electoral register are produced - the full register and the edited register. The full register contains the names and addresses of everyone eligible to vote and copies are available for public inspection, under supervision, at the Civic Centre, Paris Street and at the Reference Library, Castle Street. . Your name and address will automatically appear on the full register, but you can choose whether or not your details appear on the edited register by ticking the box on the canvass or registration form. 

Only certain organisations are allowed to have copies of the full register. It can only be used for: electoral purposes, crime prevention and detection, and vetting of applicants for credit. It is a criminal offence to use it for any unauthorised purpose or to pass it on to anyone else. The edited register is available for general sale and can be used for any lawful purpose, including commercial activities such as marketing. It excludes the names and addresses of people who have opted out by ticking a box on the registration form.

Anyone who is registered to vote is also eligible to apply for a postal vote, either as a permanent arrangement or for a fixed period of time.