Forum Topic

Hounslow voters registration

I have just received what has to be my 5th or 6th voting registration form in the last 12 months or so.  How many more times do I have to register?    It does say that if nothing has changed I do not need to do anything - so I wont but why do I keep getting them?  I know the population can be very fluid but how much does it cost the council to send these things out (presumably to everyone in the borough) every couple of months?  I could be wrong but I am pretty sure I used only to get these things every couple of years maybe even longer apart, possibly only around general election time.  What a waste of money, time and energy. At least as far as I can tell this particular form doesn't say I can become a criminal overnight if I ignore it so presumably it is a less important form than the previous ones!

Bernadette Paul ● 7299d3 Comments

These forms are intended to encourage people not only to register but also to vote.  I expect that what you have recieved over the last few months are the normal registration form sent out in about September every year. This was followed up by a reminder,if you had not returned it by a certain date,then another reminder. Once you respond to one of these forms you are sent a confirmation listing what has been enterered on the Electoral Register.Yes it is an offence not to register to vote and you can be fined. Although it has been very unusual for people to have been prosecuted for this in the past, I think that we are likely to see many more cases coming to court in future years.This process it not a waste of money, as anyone who was unable to vote in the General Election will tell you. Had the same follow up to the normal annual form been made last year the problems that prevented people from voting would have been picked up.The 18th birth date is shown in order that if an election is held on or after that date then that person may vote. If the election is before they reach 18 then they are unable to vote. It must be extremely annoying for someone whos 18th birthday is on the 5th of May this year. With the exception of a by-election they will have to wait until the next General Election to cast their first vote.John Davies

John Davies ● 7264d

Does anyone know why 18th birthdays appear on the Voters list for anyone to see?

Sarah Felstead ● 7265d

I must admit I was worried that I was not registered to vote when I recieved yet another letter from the Council and agree with you Bernadette that this is a complete waste of our money.How many potential voters will now miss out on their right to vote simply because they are now confused by so many letters from the Council and so ignore them?I can understand Hounslow wanting to avoid a repeat of last years farce when many missed out on the vote in the General Election because of the Councils cock-up but this is yet again a complete disregard for our taxes.

Paul Fisher ● 7299d