Important Note - if you are not registered, you cannot vote.
This section contains general information about Electoral Registration within Lothian, together with details of how to find out more if you have a specific inquiry.
Electoral Registration Officer
The Assessor to the Lothian Valuation Joint Board, has been appointed as Electoral Registration Officer by the Councils of The City of Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian and West Lothian.
The main duties of the Electoral Registration Officer include the creation and maintenance of the Register of Electors.
The Register of Electors, or Voters Roll as it is often called, is principally based on an annual canvass of all properties where electors may reside. When the Register is published it is effectively a list of addresses where the names of those persons registered are shown. The Register also indicates the entitlement to vote at various types of elections.
During the canvass there is a legal requirement to give the Electoral Registration Officer, when asked, full details of all persons entitled to be registered. There is no subsequent legal requirement to vote if you do not wish to do so.
Electoral Canvass
The annual Electoral Canvass is the principal way by which the Electoral Registration Officer ingathers the bulk of the content of the Register.
The Canvass commences in late August or early September each year, inquiries being based on a date of 15 October. Householders, or indeed individuals within households who feel they have not been included in the canvass for any reason, should seek advice and guidance from the Electoral Registration Officer.
Persons registered in households from which the Canvass Form has not been returned, run the risk of having their names removed from the register as a legal requirement. Removal from the register would mean the loss of the ability to vote, unless of course, the person is registered elsewhere.
The Register and monthly update process
The Electoral Register will be revised each year at 1 December and the Electoral Registration Officer may revise it at other times of the year. It is used for elections to the Scottish Parliament, the UK Parliament (Westminster) and the European Parliament. It is also used for local elections to appoint Councillors, at national referendums and in the election of Community Councillors.
Not everyone whose name appears in the Register has the right to vote at all elections. This lack of entitlement may be because of age, membership of the House of Lords, nationality (as a citizen of an other European Union Country) or registration as an Overseas Elector. The Register contains statutory codes to indicate where such limited qualification exists.
Individual Electors may make application for Registration during the year. The form should be completed for the address at which they are normally resident on the "relevant date". The relevant date is the date the applicant signs the form.
Applications received by the Registration Officer will then be processed as required by the legislation. It is important that Electors make their applications when moving house, for example, as early as possible after the event. The statutory timescale may not permit the application in time for the Elector to be added to the Register in time for pending elections.
Further details and advice on this point can be had simply by contacting the Electoral Registration Officer.
Voter registration forms can be obtained from our downloads section.