About the electoral register

Everyone who is registered to vote will appear on the full electoral register.

The open electoral register is an extract of the full electoral register that is available for:

• the public to view
• organisations to buy

Your name and address will automatically be added to the open register, unless you opt out.

You can opt out of the open register:

• when you register to vote        
• during our annual canvass        
• by completing an online request form        

You can find more information about the electoral register on GOV.UK.

Credit checks and the electoral register

We have to supply copies of the full electoral register to credit reference agencies.

Even if you have opted out of the open register we have to make your details available to credit reference agencies.

Credit reference agencies use the electoral register to help calculate your credit score and decide if you should get credit.

If you’re not on the electoral register, it may have a negative effect on your credit score.

You must register to vote to appear on the electoral register. You don’t have to vote even after you have registered.

You can contact us to check if you are on the electoral register, but we can’t contact credit reference agencies for you.

Prove that you are on the electoral register

Request a Certificate of Inclusion

If a credit reference agency asks you to prove that you are on the electoral register, we can give you a Certificate of Inclusion. 

The Certificate of Inclusion confirms that you are on the electoral register at your address.

We can only send the certificate to the person registered at that address, not to anyone else. 

You have to have been registered at your address before 1 September 2017.

To request a Certificate of Inclusion, you will need your:

• name, address and contact details, including a phone number and email address

When you submit your request, we will send you an email with information about the different payment options.

Viewing the electoral register

You can view a section of the register if you know the address of the person you are looking for.

You will need to contact us to arrange a viewing.