Electoral registration and voting

By-election results for council seats in Woodbridge

By-elections were held in Woodbridge for the Woodbridge Riverside district council and town council seats, and the Woodbridge Division county council seat, on 18 September 2008. Follow this link to find out details of the results.

How do I get my name on the electoral register?

Suffolk Coastal has a total population of 122,000 people, of which over 90,000 are eligible to vote. Suffolk Coastal's elections team is responsible for maintaining the electoral register which is updated annually.

You can add your name to the register of electors at any time throughout the year. When you send us a completed, signed registration form we will add you to our list of new applications. Any elector can then object to your name being added to the register. If this happens we will write to you.

You can contact us on 01394 444329 or email elections@suffolkcoastal.gov.uk and we can send you a partially completed form ready for your signature. Alternatively, follow this link to the Electoral Commission's website aboutmyvote.co.uk to download a registration form.

Why should I register?

• If you do not register then you cannot exercise your democratic right to vote in any election.
• It is much harder to obtain credit if you are not on the register.
• The Council may take legal proceedings against householders who fail to return their registration form.

How can I view the register?

The electoral registration officer makes and keeps two versions of the register - the full register and the edited register.

The full register lists everyone who is entitled to vote. Only certain people and organisations can have copies of the full register and they can only use it for specified purposes. These include electoral purposes, the prevention and detection of crime and checking your identity when you have applied for credit.

The law says who can have a copy of the full register and what they can use it for. The full list of such persons and purposes is given in the Representation of the People (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2002. It is a criminal offence for them to pass it on to anyone else or to use it for any other purpose.

The full register can be checked at Suffolk Coastal's Woodbridge offices. However, anyone checking the full register must be supervised and they may only make hand written notes. Anyone wishing to make an extended search should telephone 01394 444329 to make appropriate arrangements.

The edited register leaves out the names and addresses of people who have asked for them to be excluded from that version of the register. The edited register can be bought by anyone who asks for a copy and they may use it for any purpose. A copy of the edited register is available for inspection at the reception desk at Suffolk Coastal's Woodbridge offices.

Who is eligible to vote?

• You have to be eighteen years or over.
• British, Commonwealth (including Cyprus and Malta) and Irish citizens can vote in all elections.
• European citizens are allowed to vote in European and local elections only.
• Overseas electors are allowed to vote in Parliamentary and European elections only.

If you prefer, you can apply to vote by post or proxy (a proxy is someone who votes on your behalf). You can contact us on 01394 444329 or email elections@suffolkcoastal.gov.uk and we can send you a partially completed form ready for your signature. Alternatively, follow this link to the Electoral Commission's website aboutmyvote.co.uk to download an application form. Once you have completed your form send it to:

Suffolk Coastal District Council
Elections Office
Melton Hill
Woodbridge
Suffolk IP12 1AU

How do I vote?

Approximately three weeks before an election each member of the household who is eligible to vote should receive either:

• A poll card informing them about the date of the election, where their polling station is and the hours of the poll and how to vote. You do not need to take the poll card with you to be able to vote.
• 
  
• Information about their postal or proxy voting arrangements and what to do if these need to be changed.

If neither document is received, it may be that you are not on the electoral register. You can register to vote by contacting us on 01394 444329 or emailing elections@suffolkcoastal.gov.uk and we will send you a partially completed form ready for your signature. Alternatively, follow this link to the Electoral Commission's website aboutmyvote.co.uk to download a registration form.

More information

The Electoral Commission's website aboutmyvote.co.uk contains comprehensive information about registering and using your vote including details of forthcoming elections and deadlines for electoral registration. Alternatively, contact us on 01394 444329 or email elections@suffolkcoastal.gov.uk and we will be pleased to help you.