Opt out of commercially available register

Archived press release

Date Published: 13/06/12

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Aylesbury Vale residents will be receiving their annual electoral registration form shortly and they must decide whether ‘to opt in or opt out’.

Choosing to opt out will mean they will not be included on the edited version of the register which is available to be sold to anyone who applies to the council.

Not only is it important that residents understand what to do with the opt-out box but they are also urged to ensure they respond to the form as soon as possible. Later this year elections will be held for the Police and Crime Commissioner for the Thames Valley area so this form is particularly important.

The council has to carry out an annual canvass each year and it’s a legal requirement for residents to provide the information requested. If residents do not return their forms or confirm their registration electronically they may find that their names have been removed from the register and will be unable to vote at elections.

Each year, two versions of the electoral register are compiled - the 'full register' which lists the names and addresses of everyone who is registered to vote. Anyone is entitled to look at it, but it’s a criminal offence to supply or use copies for purposes other than set down in the law.

The 'edited register' is available for general sale and can be used for any purpose, including marketing. Anyone can opt out of having their details included in the edited version by ticking the box on the registration form. Residents will be able to alter whether their details appear on the edited register or not by returning the form, or registering through the internet or telephone, but not via text.

Under election law, voters must be offered the choice of opting in or out of the edited register each year and the opt-out only applies for the next 12 months. However, residents can give notice that they do not want their personal information to be used for direct marketing either permanently or until further notice by completing a form on the AVDC website. Each individual must confirm separately that they want to do this.

If residents decide to give notice that they wish to make this change, this means that the opt-out box on the annual canvass form will be pre-ticked in future. To opt out of the edited register permanently or until further notice, visit www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/editedregister

Chris Sheard, Electoral Services Manager, said: “Every home will receive an electoral registration form by the end of June. This year if you don’t want your name to appear on the next version of the register that we can sell to marketing companies, you need to tick the box that says ‘edited register’. You can also make this choice when you respond by phone or internet. Residents can also let us know if they want their details to be excluded from future versions of the edited register by completing an additional form on our website.”

For help and advice on registration, visit www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/elections or call 01296 585807.

For more details about the police commissioner elections visit www.homeoffice.gov.uk/police