Elections and Registering to Vote
Electoral Registration by Internet
This facility has now closed. Please ring the Electoral Registration Section Helpline on (01395) 517402 for advice.
More infomation on:
Registering for elections in East Devon
Last date for receipt of applications
Absent Voting by Post or Proxy
Crown Servants or British Council Employees
Registering for elections in East Devon
Your name must be on the register of electors in order for you to vote.
Between September and November each year, a canvass is undertaken and registration forms are sent to every household. By law, these must be returned with details of everyone living at the property who is eligible to register and who will be resident at that property on 15 October.
Electoral registration officers also ask for 16 and 17 year olds to be included on the form as it is possible that they will become 18 years old during the life of the next register. If that is the case, their names will appear on the register showing the date on which they will become 18. If an election is called on or after that date, that person will be eligible to vote.
The register can also be updated with new details at any time from November to August by 
downloading a registration form (28KB - 24 October 2011 - PDF Help), filling it in and sending it back to the address at the bottom of the form. We will accept completed forms returned to us as an email attachment or by fax, you do not need to follow up with the original. Details are on the form. There is a timetable that we have to adhere to below so you can see on which date you would be included on the Electoral Roll.
| Last date for applications | Applicants published on Electoral Register |
| Monday 12th December 2011 | Tuesday 3rd January 2012 |
| Tuesday 10th January 2012 | Wednesday 1st February 2012 |
| Wednesday 8th February 2012 | Thursday 1st March 2012 |
| Friday 9th March 2012 | Monday 2nd April 2012 |
| Wednesday 18th April 2012 | Tuesday 1st May 2012 |
| Thursday 10th May 2012 | Friday 1st June 2012 |
| Friday 8th June 2012 | Monday 2nd July 2012 |
| Tuesday 10th July 2012 | Wednesday 1st August 2012 |
| Friday 10th August 2012 | Monday 3rd September 2012 |
| Wednesday 31 October 2012 | Thursday 15 November (for Police Commissioner elections) |
If you believe you are already on the electoral register but you would like confirmation of this, please complete our online registration confirmation form. Alternatively, for any other electoral enquiries you can contact us through our online general enquiry form or speak to a Electoral Registration Officer via our helpline on (01395) 517402.
Electorate
| Year | Electorate (People registered to vote) |
| 2008 | 105,655 |
| 2009 | 105,272 |
| 2010 | 104,206 |
Copies of the register are available for public inspection at the Council Offices, Knowle, Sidmouth and The Town Hall, Exmouth.
The registration form and other application forms are available in large print, braille, audio tape and languages other than English. Please contact the Helpline on (01395) 517402. Forms can also be accepted scanned or digitally signed by email and fax.
Last date for receipt of applications
The Electoral Services Officer keeps two versions of the electoral register. The full register lists everyone who is entitled to vote. It can only be used for electoral purposes, the prevention and detection of crime and checking your identity for credit purposes.
The edited register leaves out the names and addresses of people who have asked to be excluded from that version of the register. The edited register can be bought by anyone and they may use it for any purpose.
Please do not assume that you are registered to vote just because you pay Council Tax at your new property. Please either send us a registration form (28KB - 24 October 2011 - PDF Help) detailing you change of address, or for further assistance telephone 01395 517402 or email electoralservices@eastdevon.gov.uk.
Absent Voting by Post or Proxy
Voting by post
You can now have a permanent postal vote; a postal vote for a specific period; or a postal vote for a particular election. This will allow you to vote from home. You can also ask for your ballot paper to be sent to a different address provided it is a definitive address (you do have to give a reason eg on holiday, working away, studying at university etc.) ie, a UK address with a post code is acceptable, a caravan on a holiday site is not definitive enough for Royal Mail to deliver; if you are on a cruise ship, it will not be delivered. If you are going abroad, it might be a better option to appoint a proxy (see below). The ballot papers are sent out about a week before an election.
You need to be aware that, if you are going away more than 6 working days (21st April 2011) before the date of an election, your postal vote is unlikely to arrive before you leave. Postal votes are sent out approximately 8 working days (19 April) before Election Day.
Voting by Proxy
If you cannot get to your polling station on the day of an election and do not want to vote by post, you can appoint someone you trust to vote for you (providing they agree), this must be done at least 6 days before an election. They will either have to go to your normal polling station to vote or if your proxy lives too far from your polling station to be able to vote in person, the proxy can apply for a postal proxy vote but you need to allow enough time to submit your application, for your proxy to apply for and then submit their application for a Proxy Postal Vote. All this must be done at least 11 days before an election. You must already be registered to vote and your Proxy must be eligible to vote. To apply for a proxy vote, please telephone 01395 517402 for an application form.
You have to provide a reason (on holiday, physical condition, employment, studying away etc.) Your Proxy can only be a proxy for up to 2 people who are not members of your immediate family, you need to check this before appointing somebody.
The completed & scanned form can be sent by email to electoralservices@eastdevon.gov.uk, by fax on 01395 517507, or delivered by hand to The Electoral Registration Officer, East Devon District Council, Knowle, Sidmouth, EX10 8HL.
If you are a British citizen living abroad, but you've been registered to vote in the UK within the last 15 years, you can apply to be an overseas voter. If you were too young to register when you left the UK, your parent or guardian must have been registered in the UK.
To register, fill in the registration form and return it to your electoral registration office in the UK.
You need Adobe Acrobat reader to open this document. If you do not currently have it installed, you can get a get a free version of the reader.
The document must be printed single-sided and with no scaling (i.e. original size not 'fit to paper' or 'shrink large pages'.
If you or your spouse is a member of the British Army, the Royal Navy or the Royal Air Force, you can still register to vote.
If you are based overseas or you live in the UK but may be posted abroad at short notice, you can apply to register as a service voter. This allows you to be registered at an address in Great Britain while you are posted abroad.
To register, fill in the registration form and return it to the address on this page.
You need Adobe Acrobat reader to open this document. If you do not currently have it installed, you can get a get a free version of the reader.
The document must be printed single-sided and with no scaling (i.e. original size not 'fit to paper' or 'shrink large pages'.
Crown Servants or British Council Employees
If you are working outside the UK as a Crown Servant or as an employee of the British Council, you can still register to vote. You can also register if you are married to a Crown Servant or British Council employee and you are accompanying them during their employment abroad.
To register, fill in the registration form and return it to your electoral registration office in the UK..
You need Adobe Acrobat reader to open this document. If you do not currently have it installed, you can get a get a free version of the reader.
The document must be printed single-sided and with no scaling (i.e. original size not 'fit to paper' or 'shrink large pages'.
For a foreign language registration form or application to vote by post, please go to www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/languages.aspx.
Visitv the Parish Elector Totals (56KB - 11 February 2011 - PDF Help) showing how many people are registered in each electoral area.
To view the Electoral Changes Order, go to www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/si/si1999/19992467.htm.
To look at the final Periodic Electoral Review reports concerning East Devon visit the Boundary Commission for England.
The Electoral Commission
The Electoral Commission is an independent body that was set up by parliament. Its mission is to foster public confidence and participation by promoting integrity, involvement and effectiveness in the democratic process.
No information about modification date available
Useful Contacts
- Electoral Services
Council Offices
Knowle
Sidmouth
EX10 8HL - Would you like to talk to someone about this?
Call: 01395 517402 - Would you like to email a comment or a question on this?
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