'Figures from the Office for National Statistics show there were 10,000 fewer voters registered as of December 2004 (in comparison to the last general election)'

I for one failed to send in my registration to vote. I do feel that its a shame that they have no contingency for this when a general election is called. In the US I think you can register right up untill a few days before polls open. I know the blame falls on me for being disorganised and not registering but having to register a number of months before election day or miss out is a bit pants. Someone told me that the early date is due to poor organisation on the councils part. Is that right?

Anyway, here is the BBC news story link

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/england/4403777.stm

:idea: :idea: :idea: UPDATED :idea: :idea: :idea:
Well, in the end I decided to take a drive over to Woodseats libary at 21:30 and vote in the area where I was previously (and obviously, still) registered to vote. Was not going to bother untill I heard an interview with a guy in town saying he was too busy in the bookies and the pub to get down to polling station - decided I was just being flat out lazy and didn't wanna be like that guy. Also just finished watching my new West Wing DVD and was feeling all democratic :smile:

Come on,

You get a letter from the Registration People every year - well, I do, any way. Seems to be in autumn, I think.

It's not rocket science to fill in the form - takes me about 2 minutes.

I know this sounds a bit harsh but it's again one of those issues that we need to take responsibility for rather than expecting 'them' to sort it out.

Grumping rant over. :)

Joe

Originally posted by HottyMcBuff
'Figures from the Office for National Statistics show there were 10,000 fewer voters registered as of December 2004 (in comparison to the last general election)'

I for one failed to send in my registration to vote. I do feel that its a shame that they have no contingency for this when a general election is called. In the US I think you can register right up untill a few days before polls open. I know the blame falls on me for being disorganised and not registering but having to register a number of months before election day or miss out is a bit pants. Someone told me that the early date is due to poor organisation on the councils part. Is that right?

Anyway, here is the BBC news story link

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/england/4403777.stm


Registration? i dont think ive ever registered? :confused:

not by choice, never been sent a registration form?

edit: on reading that bbc thing it sounds like everyone shud have been sent the registration forms? well me and my fella aint recieved one? :confused:

maybe theres been a problem thats why 10,000 ppl aint registered!

I did take responsibility. That whole line about 'I know its my fault for being disorganised...' pointed that out to all the people ready to jump me for my incompetence. I was just wondering why the closing date to register is so early compared to other counties/countries/elections.

I think that Iraqi voters who live in the UK were able to register to vote in their elections up untill a few days before polls opened. If a country decimated by war can organise that, why can't we?

I take you point though Joe, I did let myself down in the end.

hotty when was it u recieved ur registraion forms?

I think January sometime, not certain though. My girlfriend managed to post her form but I kept forgetting to fill mine in. Then it was too late anyway.

I think that the idea of a rolling electoral register has been mooted in the past.

Traditionally the roll of electors is 'fixed' at a point in time. QUite why I don't know. I suppose it does offer a means of preventing 'flooding' of constituencies with people who will register in a place where their vote will make a difference. Tactical Voting with bells on!

Joe

Originally posted by HottyMcBuff
I think January sometime, not certain though. My girlfriend managed to post her form but I kept forgetting to fill mine in. Then it was too late anyway.

well ive definately not recieved any registration forms???

wonder if i'll be able to vote? :confused:

Can someone tell me why the electoral list is different from the list of people paying (or eligible to pay) council tax.

Nomme

There are posters reminding people to register.
There are television adverts.
There are newspaper adverts.
There are newspaper articles.
There are television interviews.
There are radio adverts.
There are radio interviews and discussions.
........... every year!
There is a Sheffield Council Website with the form which you can print, sign and return. Here. (http://www.sheffield.gov.uk/your-city-council/elections/register-to-vote)
I'm sure there was a lesson at school which should have explained voter registration.
Letters are sent to all houses reminding people to vote. (To "the occupier" in many cases)

You can even sign a proxy form so that I can vote for you!!!

There is a 'publishing' of the register only once a year, in December, but it is updated monthly.
There is a cut-off prior to elections so that your forms, postal votes etc. can be printed and posted out.
For the coming General Election the register cut-off was 1st April. It's only 5 weeks to the election. Hardly a drastic measure in my opinion.

Originally posted by nomme
Can someone tell me why the electoral list is different from the list of people paying (or eligible to pay) council tax.

Nomme

Residents must pay Council Tax.
Commonwealth and UK Citizens can register to vote (& EU Citizens for European Elections).

Not all residents are such citizens!
Not all eligble voters choose to register.

Originally posted by cgksheff


There are posters reminding people to register.
There are television adverts.
There are newspaper adverts.
There are newspaper articles.
There are television interviews.
There are radio adverts.
There are radio interviews and discussions.
........... every year!



Missed them. I must have gone out. You should try it. :wink:

Originally posted by cgksheff


You can even sign a proxy form so that I can vote for you!!!



Um, no thanks.

Originally posted by cgksheff
Residents must pay Council Tax.
Commonwealth and UK Citizens can register to vote (& EU Citizens for European Elections).

Not all residents are such citizens!
Not all eligble voters choose to register.

That makes sense.

Ta.

Nomme

I moved house last June and my housemates and I sent off electoral register forms in August. Since then, we have not received anything. I managed to send off the forms again about a day before they were due in during March. How do I know whether I am definitely registered? I will be livid if I am unable to vote!

Netsrik,

You need to check on the Register of Electors.

The Electoral Services Enquiry Office is situated at the Norfolk Street entrance of the Town Hall. The opening hours are between 8:45am and 4:00pm Monday to Friday.

I'm not sure if they will handle a telephone inquiry, but it is worth a try. Call: 273 4093

Originally posted by HottyMcBuff
'Figures from the Office for National Statistics show there were 10,000 fewer voters registered as of December 2004 (in comparison to the last general election)'

I for one failed to send in my registration to vote. I do feel that its a shame that they have no contingency for this when a general election is called. In the US I think you can register right up untill a few days before polls open. I know the blame falls on me for being disorganised and not registering but having to register a number of months before election day or miss out is a bit pants. Someone told me that the early date is due to poor organisation on the councils part. Is that right?

Anyway, here is the BBC news story link

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/england/4403777.stm


yopu cannot send a pre paid letter back? do you deserve a vote?

Electoral registration forms are sent out by the council in Sep/Oct annually. The forms are sent to all residential addresses, irrespective of whether anyone is currently listed as a voter at that address or not.

Last year the council made things a lot easier. If you were already registered, and there were no changes to the electors listed at your address, you could simply ring the council and automatically register as voters. You could of course have completed the form, and returned it.

There is now a rolling registration system, whereby you can add your name to the electoral register at set intervals.

Frankly HottyMcBuff, if you are sufficiently concerned to exercise your right to vote - why have you left it to the last minute to register....only to discover that you've now left it too late to vote in the general election? You are over 18 and classified as an adult I believe?

Have you filled in the form and returned it by the way? If not, you'll still lose the right to vote - including any referndum on the European Union constitution, on the euro, and local elections, etc.

Aah it's the first election I'll be able to vote in! Oh to be a member of a nation where we have the freedom to do so, sob.

It pees me off when people don't vote - not only do forms get sent round, they're also available at post offices, there were some lying around our 6th form area so they must be easy to get hold of, there's adverts all the time...for the love of crap show some respect for the freedom you have! Is what I say.















So.......I'll be voting for the least w*nkeriest candidate this year.....but they're all on pretty even footing at the moment aren't they :hihi:

Last year the council made things a lot easier. If you were already registered, and there were no changes to the electors listed at your address, you could simply ring the council and automatically register as voters. You could of course have completed the form, and returned it.

aaaaahhhhh maybe i was wrong, i remeber doing something like that :P

so it looks like im registered after all! :clap:

Originally posted by cgksheff
Residents must pay Council Tax.
Commonwealth and UK Citizens can register to vote (& EU Citizens for European Elections).

Not all residents are such citizens!
Not all eligble voters choose to register.

Not so. You are required by law to return the electoral registration form.............failure to do so = up to £1,00.00 fine.

Mo,
You are correct, but it does not negate anything in my post.

If you recieve a form, yes, you must fill and return it. It is still possible that you are not eligible to vote and therefore will not appear on the Register of Electors.

If you don't recieve a form, you are not obliged to register.

The questioner asked for reasons for variance between Council Tax Payers and persons on the Register of Electors.
I believe that is what he got.

Just for information- You can ask to be put on the edited version of the register. This will mean your name will not appear on the Electoral Registers that are sold on to companies.

The £1000 fine is just to scare everyone to get them to fill in the form. I don't think Sheffield or any other local authority has actually fined any person to this date.

The local authorities do send out forms in September and then October and then one final reminder is sent out, so everyone over the age of 18 should receive one , as ALL the forms get hand delivered.

I hope this helps.

Kady

Originally posted by noseyrosie
Aah it's the first election I'll be able to vote in! Oh to be a member of a nation where we have the freedom to do so, sob.

It pees me off when people don't vote - not only do forms get sent round, they're also available at post offices, there were some lying around our 6th form area so they must be easy to get hold of, there's adverts all the time...for the love of crap show some respect for the freedom you have! Is what I say.


Errr...wait until you've voted a few times and seen diferent parties with identical agendas take the reins; maybe then you'll understand the apathy.

And no. We don't love crap :loopy:

The reason hotty isn't registered is partly cause we moved house in november. So we sent the compulsory from back in october. But then had to fill in a change of address form later on. I did remind him but he's a little disorganised and didn't wasn't really bothered untill they annouced the election.

Sal/Hotty,

From what you have just said, it is likely that you are still registered.
If you really want to vote ....

Check the register at your old address. (you can do it by phone... see earlier posts)

In which case you will still have the option of casting your vote at your old polling station (take ID).

I moved house at the end of Feb, and have missed the boat entirely I think.

I was registered at the old place, but for the new one I'm not... So no voting for me this time around, which makes me really cross...

I think though alot of people make the mistake of thinking that the registration for the electoral roll is tied up with the council tax registration...

I don't mind being berated for not sending back a form - I deserve to be. In fact, its nice too see people are passionate about such a thing in the lead up to an election where apathy looks set to lead to a turnout of less than 52% of registered voters (apparently).

Have just found that in my ward I would have had the choice of labour, conservative, BNP or ukip. Not being keen on what any of those parties have to offer would have left me scratching my head anyway.

Robbies post made me laugh by the way, nice one fella :clap:

Originally posted by Miss
I moved house at the end of Feb, and have missed the boat entirely I think.

I was registered at the old place, but for the new one I'm not... So no voting for me this time around, which makes me really cross...

I think though alot of people make the mistake of thinking that the registration for the electoral roll is tied up with the council tax registration...

Miss, you still have a vote vote for your old constituency, so long as you are registered there. If you don't want to make the journey to vote in person then you have until April 26th to get your application in for a postal vote. You can download an application form here (http://www.sheffield.gov.uk/your-city-council/elections/voting-by-post-or-proxy).

Even if you moved from a constituency outside Sheffield, the same rules and timetable apply, so you needn't miss your vote after all

:clap: