Opting out of the edited version of the electoral register is the fourth step you can take. The electoral register lists the name and address of everyone who has registered to vote. There are two versions of the register: the full version and the edited version.
Full register
This has the names and addresses of everyone registered to vote. By law, anyone can look at it, but copies can only be supplied for certain purposes, such as elections and law enforcement. Credit reference agencies are also allowed to use the full register, but only to check your name and address if you are applying for credit, and to help stop money laundering. Anyone who has a copy of the register will be committing a criminal offence if they unlawfully pass on information from it. You do not have a choice about your name and address being on this register.
Edited register
This can be bought by any person, company or organisation and could be used for different purposes including marketing. It can be used to send out marketing materials that you may consider to be unwanted or junk mail. You can choose not to appear on this register.
The person who fills in and signs the voter registration form must ask each person named on the form if they want their details to be included on the edited register. If you do not want your details to appear on the edited register you must tick the box on the voter registration form to be excluded.
To find out more visit: www.electoralcommission.gov.uk
