Every year between August and November a canvass is carried out to update the electoral register. This year the annual canvas starts on 13 August, when a canvass form is delivered to every residential property in the city.
Current elector details for a property are pre-printed on the canvass form; please amend these details where necessary. If the details are correct and no changes are required, you can confirm ‘no change’ by using the freephone, internet or SMS services.
All applications to register made from 11 August 2010, will not become effective until 1 December when the new register is published.
If you need to change your name or address at other times of the year, you can apply to register under the rolling registration scheme.
Read our frequently asked questions document for more information about registering to vote.
Special cases
Students can register at either their term-time address or their home address.
If you live in student accommodation your university or college will provide us with your details; you should check that this has been done. Otherwise you must make sure that you complete the registration form as usual.
If you are a British national living abroad you can register to vote for up to 15 years from the date you were last registered in the UK.
If you are a member of HM Forces you can register under a special three-year arrangement.
People from many countries are allowed to vote: read the full list of nationalities eligible to vote.
The electoral register
The electoral register lists all residents who are entitled to vote.
An updated version of the register is published every December, although voters' amended details are updated every month.
Opt out
There are two versions of the electoral register, a full version and an edited version.
The full register is used for voting purposes, credit referencing, jury summoning and for the prevention and detection of crime.
The edited register is the version that is available for sale and can be given marketing companies.
If you do not wish your details to be passed on, you should ensure that you tick the box on the registration form asking if you want to be opted-out.
Objections
Applications for registration (except anonymous registrations) are open to inspection and can be objected to by any elector registered in the city area.
If there are no objections to your application for registration, we will write to you with your new registration details.
Objections must be made in writing, giving details of the objection and addressed to the Electoral Registration Officer at the Guildhall, Cambridge CB2 3QJ.
