Electoral registration guidance manual
We have produced a comprehensive guidance manual for Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) across Great Britain. This replaces Managing electoral services. The manual also covers applications for absent voting, as Electoral Registration Officers have a duty to process these.
The manual only covers electoral registration in England, Scotland and Wales. It does not deal with electoral registration in Northern Ireland.
A full copy of the registration manual in both English and Welsh can be downloaded by clicking on the following links (please note they are large files):
- Managing electoral registration in Great Britain: guidance for Electoral Registration Officers (PDF)
- Rheoli cofrestru etholiadol ym Mhrydain Fawr: arweiniad i Swyddogion Cofrestru Etholiadol (PDF)
We have also made the manual available for download in parts:
Performance standards templates
We have developed a range of template plans to assist EROs in Great Britain in meeting the performance standards set by the Commission. You can download the templates as a complete set or in parts:
Supporting Electoral Registration Officers: performance standards template plans (complete set) (DOC)
Supporting Electoral Registration Officers: performance standards template plans (complete set, Welsh language version) (DOC)
Annual canvass
We have produced a range of support products for EROs and electoral registration staff to use during the annual canvass.
The resources are intended to provide tools to support the management and delivery of the canvass, and the template format allows for local requirements to be incorporated into the individual products. The template materials consist of the following:
Resources to support the management of the canvass
- annual canvass performance standards template plan (DOC)
- sample canvasser job description template (DOC)
- canvasser log sheet (DOC)
- canvasser calling card (DOC)
- FAQs (DOC)
- list of eligible countries for electoral registration purposes (PDF)
- British Library guidelines for supply of the electoral register (PDF)
We have also produced template press releases to help you raise awareness of the annual canvass through your local media. The press releases can be found on our Do Politics website.
Resources to support the briefing of canvassers
- canvasser instruction manual template (DOC)
- purpose of the annual canvass of electors statement (PDF)
- canvasser briefing session (PPT)
Welsh language canvass resources
- canvasser instruction manual template - Welsh language (PDF)
- purpose of the annual canvass of electors statement - Welsh language (PDF)
- canvasser briefing session - Welsh language (PPT)
Alternative language versions
The statement of the purpose of the annual canvass document is available in the following languages:
- Arabic (PDF)
- Bengali (PDF)
- Chinese (PDF)
- French (PDF)
- Gujarati (PDF)
- Polish (PDF)
- Punjabi (PDF)
- Urdu (PDF)
Rolling registration
Our rolling registration forms are available to download from our About My Vote website (with the Electoral Registration Officer's address pre-printed) and our electoral registration forms page (without the pre-printed address).
Practical advice on how to maintain a complete and accurate register throughout the year is provided in our electoral registration guidance manual.
Other resources for administrators and details on our public information campaigns can all be found on our Do Politics website.
Access and supply of electoral registers
Full register front covers
The following are template front covers for the full register, which provide information to those inspecting/purchasing/requesting a copy of the full register on how the register can be used and of the penalties they could face if they use the register for purposes other than those set out in legislation.
- Cover sheet for copies of the full register for sale (DOC)
- Cover sheet for copies of the full register supplied free of charge on request (DOC)
- Cover sheet for copies of the full register available for inspection (DOC)
Staff guidance notes
Edited register front cover
The following is a template front cover for the edited register, which contains information on the sale of the edited register and the 'opt out':
Designing electoral services
This document has been prompted by the challenges facing new unitary authorities in setting up new electoral services units. It outlines the factors and highlights common issues that should be considered in designing a new service. We recognise that there is no 'one size fits all' solution but we explore the best practice methods of establishing an effective structure and provide information for additional help and guidance for those involved in the process.
