The Full Electoral Register and open register

There are two versions of the electoral register - the full electoral register and the open register.

The Full Electoral Register

The Full Electoral Register (sometimes called the 'electoral roll') lists the names and addresses of everyone registered to vote.

Circulation of the full register is strictly limited to individuals and organisations listed in the Representation of the People (England and Wales) Regulations 2001. 

Recipients of the electoral register may only use it for the purposes specified by the regulations, which are for electoral purposes, the prevention and detection of crime, safeguarding national security or checking the identities of individuals who have applied for financial services. 

It is a criminal offence for any recipient to disclose information from the full register or to use it for any other purposes than those set out above.

The full register is updated monthly between January and September through rolling registration.

The open register is an extract of the electoral register, but is not used for elections. This version of the register can be brought by anyone who asks for a copy and can used for any purpose.

If you do not want your details sold on to anyone else, you can ask for your name and address to be excluded from this version.

If you do not opt out your details will be shown on the open register which can be sold to direct marketing companies and anyone else who wants to buy it.

The full current register is held at the Electoral Services office at the Brent Civic Centre. The full register must be viewed under the supervision of a member of the Electoral Services team and only hand written notes can be made. Photocopying, photographing or other forms of electronic recording of the register are not permitted by law.

The register is published in alphabetical road order within Polling Districts and Borough Wards because it is a list of borough addresses where there is anyone currently registered to vote. It only contains the name and elector number, not other details such as contact numbers or forwarding addresses. 

Due to the Covid-19 guidance about social distancing, we are currently unable to book any appointments to inspect the register until further notice.

It is an offence to make copies other than by hand written notes and there are strict restrictions on what the information can be used for. Misuse of data from the full register could lead to a fine of up to £5,000.

Please note, only the current register is available for inspection. If you wish to view historic copies of the register please contact the British Library.

The electoral register is used by:

• election staff, political parties, candidates and holders of elected office for electoral purposes
• the council for duties relating to security, enforcing the law and preventing crime - the police and the security services can also use it for law enforcement
• the HM Courts and Tribunals Service to call people up for jury service.

Credit reference agencies

The full register of electors can legally be sold to registered credit reference agencies. They help other organisations to check the names and addresses of people applying for credit. They also use it to carry out identity checks when trying to prevent and detect money laundering.

To find out what these credit reference agencies use your data for, visit their websites:

• TransUnion
• Experian
• Equifax
• Crediva
• Aristotle - although a registered credit reference agency they deal directly with companies and not members of the public.

Buying the open register

There is legislation which outlines the charges that all council's must make for requests for data from the open electoral register, these are:

• in data form, the fee is £20 plus £1.50 for each 1,000 entries (or remaining part of 1,000 entries) in it
• in printed form, the fee is £10 plus £5 for each 1,000 entries (or remaining part of 1,000 entries) in it.

The cost of collating the register is in excess of £200,000 each year. We do not make money from selling the open register.

Anyone wishing to opt their details out of the open register may do so when they register to vote or by filling in the opt out form

Direct mail

If you do not want direct or junk mail sent to your home, register with the Mailing Preference Service.