Register to vote

To be able to vote in elections, you must be registered.

If you aren't registered to vote, you won't have the chance to have a say on who represents you.

Some people also register to vote because they want to apply for credit. Credit reference agencies use the Electoral Register to confirm where someone lives when they apply for credit to counteract fraud.

If you don't register to vote, you won't have a say at future elections and referendums. If you don't respond to requests for information from the Electoral Registration Office you could be at risk of getting fined £80.

Young voters

Your future, your vote, your choice

Your vote can:

• Give young people fantastic apprenticeship and job opportunities
• Help to develop culture and the arts
• Give your grandparents independence
• Provide the community with local outdoor education and leisure facilities
• Provide healthcare for your whole family
• Help to develop your talents
• Give you a chance to shape South Tyneside
• Help to support local fostering families
• Keep you safe at night

Myths about voting and registering to vote

Below are some popular myths about voting and registering to vote:

Myth 1: I pay council tax, so I'm registered to vote

Reality: Council tax records and the electoral register contain different information. Council tax records hold the name of the bill payer, but not necessarily all the people who live at the property. For this and other legal reasons, the electoral registration officer is not allowed to take names from council tax and add them to the electoral register.

Myth 2: Credit scores won't be affected if I'm not on the register

Reality:  The electoral register is often used for credit referencing purposes to counteract fraud. If you are not registered you may be refused credit, or have problems opening a bank account or taking out a mobile phone contract.  The main credit reference agencies receive information from us each December, and monthly updates between January and September, but it can take them a few weeks to update their records after each update.  If you are registered and are still having problems you should contact one of the agencies to get a copy of your credit file, so that you can check the details they have for you.

Myth 3: My personal details will be sold to other organisations

Reality: There are two versions of the register - the electoral register and the open register. The electoral register is used only for electoral purposes, calling people for jury service, preventing and detecting crime and checking applications for credit. The open register is available for general sale and can be used for commercial activities such as direct marketing. Your name and address will appear on the electoral register but you have the choice to opt-out of the open register.

Myth 4: I'm only 17 so I don't need to register yet

Reality: If you are 16 or 17 years old and will be 18 within the life of the electoral register you should be registered.  If an election is called and you are not 18 at that time, then you will not qualify to vote.  If an election is called and you are 18, then you will be able to vote.  Each voter is now responsible for their own registration.

If you are not registered to vote, you can register online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

Myth 5: You have to register to vote again if there is a national election or referendum

Reality: Once you are registered you will be able to vote at all elections you are eligible for.  Your registration lasts for as long as you live at the address you are registered at. If you move home you need to apply to register at your new address.

Myth 6: You can't use a pen to mark your ballot paper in a polling station

Reality: There is no legal requirement to mark the ballot papers with a pencil.  Pencils are provided inside polling booths, however pens are available from the Presiding Officer or voters can choose to use their own pen. Pencils are used for practical reasons: with ink pens there is a risk that they may dry out or spill; the ink from the mark the voter has made may transfer when they fold it, leading to their vote being rejected if, for example, it looks like they have voted for more candidates than they are entitled to.

Myth 7: You can't vote if you haven't got your poll card

Reality: You get a poll card for information; you do not need to take it with you to vote.  As long as your name is on the register being used in the polling station, you have your voter identification (see Voter ID: New requirement for voters to provide photographic identification at polling stations ) and you have not applied to vote by post, you will get a ballot paper in the polling station.