The way you register to vote is changing ?

[Laurie61]

Hi all, just thought I'd bring this up. I received a notification form SBC yesterday entitled as above, Apparently the old registering/voting system was not fit for purpose and it's been overhauled.
It starts by saying "you have been re-registered under the new system and don't need to do anything" which is fine. It then says" your details are not on the open register"
It then goes on to explain the standard electoral register's uses and the open one. In the paragraph entitled THE OPEN REGISTER it then say's " Your name and address will be added to the open register unless you ask for them to be removed" ? apparently contradicting the previous statement.
So my question is what was wrong with the old system and is this just a method of re setting the open register so everybody appears on it, which presumably makes it more saleable to company's wanting local address details for junk mail ect.
Interestingly my Dad read his letter down to the part where it say's you don't need to do anything and put it in the recycling. Is this what was hoped for generally ?

 

[Gramaisc]

I wonder if they may mean that you're currently not on the open register, but, if you don't confirm your wishes then you will be entered into the next edition of the open register. Either they're being 'clever' and intending you to mistakenly assume that your non-entry on the open register will continue - or they're being a bit dim and not explaining it too clearly - by the sound of it.

I haven't had one yet - electoral register stuff normally comes in Sept/Oct, I seem to recall.

 

[PeterD]

I had one, it indicated I was on it, I have just emailed them to be removed.

 

[Laurie61]

I have popped over to the gov.uk/yourvotematters site and the reason for the change seems to be making sure everybody within a household is on the register, previously it was the responsibility of the 'head of household'. If you don't register you may be fined £80. some reading here - http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/3198/pdfs/uksiem_20133198_en.pdf
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/en/uksi/2013/3198/schedule/3/chapter/2/made
There still appearers to be no good reason for putting everybody back on the open register ?

 

[Gramaisc]

There still appearers to be no good reason for putting everybody back on the open register ?

Maybe there's money in it? http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...ersonal-details-fuelling-junk-mail-blitz.html

 

[John Marwood]

I had one, it indicated I was on it, I have just emailed them to be removed.

I can't see where you can ask for removal, on that site .....

 

[captainpish]

Just filled mine in online. Asking for email and phone numbers and to put you on the open register. So thats where all the ppi calls and other assorted bollox I get regularly buy their info from. Ive made sure im not on it now.

 

[ATJ]

Have never been on the open register and have just done the online process to make sure it remains that way. The other half was devastated to discover that I can no longer register on his behalf. Since when has it been a fineable offence not to register though?

 

[Laurie61]

. Since when has it been a fineable offence not to register though?

From what I can see the fine was introduced with the new legislation in 2013 ?

 

[age'd parent]

I had one, it indicated I was on it, I have just emailed them to be removed.

Ditto, and they emailed me back...
" I am writing to you to confirm that we have processed your request to change your preference for appearing on the current version of the open register.

Your details will not be on the open register with effect from 1 December 2014."

 

[biccies]

My letter just said that I needed to register. I did it online and it asks whether or not you'd like to be included on the open register. It also had a bit of a bug, they ask how you'd like to be contacted and provide the choices; by phone, email or post. If you click either phone or email it throws an error saying you need to provide those details- but there's no place to put them!

 

[John Marwood]

the site is hosted in the US of A

 

[biccies]

Gov.uk appears to be hosted in the UK...

 

[staffordjas]

I wonder if they may mean that you're currently not on the open register, but, if you don't confirm your wishes then you will be entered into the next edition of the open register. Either they're being 'clever' and intending you to mistakenly assume that your non-entry on the open register will continue - or they're being a bit dim and not explaining it too clearly - by the sound of it.

We had a letter each today . I got down to 'Your details are not on the open register.To be added to the open register please contact us.....' and assumed that it would stay that way if I did nothing, and we would be staying off it.

I'll give them a quick call tomorrow to check.

 

[John Marwood]

Gov.uk appears to be hosted in the UK...

Appearances are deceptive, try Utah

 

[citricsquid]

Appearances are deceptive, try Utah

What leads you to that conclusion? Even during the Beta (during which no private data was stored) they ran the site on servers in Europe.

 

[dr watson]

Ditto, and they emailed me back...
" I am writing to you to confirm that we have processed your request to change your preference for appearing on the current version of the open register.

Your details will not be on the open register with effect from 1 December 2014."

Ditto - I received the same reply.
Does that mean that we will be on the 'open register' from now until December?

 

[John Marwood]

What leads you to that conclusion? Even during the Beta (during which no private data was stored) they ran the site on servers in Europe.

I admit to knowing only that that is spoken to me in person in good faith

I think this was stuck to the soul of your shoe?

 

[John Marwood]

Is it a sign ? Should we all wear one sandal?

 

[henryscat]

I had a letter demanding I register by 29th August - filling in all of my details including NI number, inside leg measurement, hat size and so on, whilst Mrs Henryscat had a letter saying "you don't have to do anything"!!