Register to vote and the annual canvass

The annual electoral register update: October 2024 to February 2025

Every year, usually between August and November, we conduct the 'annual canvass' where an electoral registration form is delivered to every home in Oxford. This is your chance to register to vote. The timing of the recent general election means we have had to move the process to later in the year than normal. This year that means it will start in October and will finish by the end of January. The new register will be published on 1 February 2025.

We will start by sending emails in early October 2024. If you get an email you will need to respond. The email will show as follows: elections.oxford.city.council@notifications.service.gov.uk. It is sent on the Council's behalf by the government's GOV.UK Notify service. The website you will be directed to is as follows: www.elecreg.co.uk/oxford-e. This is run by a company on behalf of the Council hence the '.co.uk' and not '.gov.uk'.

Following that, we will send forms. The form will tell you what you need to do, if anything. If you are required to respond, please do so as soon as you can to help avoid the need for costly reminders and, eventually, personal visits.

Deliveries of the initial forms begin in late October and reminder forms will be sent out in November.

If we receive no response, our canvassers will make personal visits in December and January. These canvassers will use tablet devices to record replies and will always carry a Council-issued ID badge. If you're unsure about a visitor claiming to be a canvasser, please contact us.

The register for 2025 will be published on 1 February 2025. A paper copy is available for inspection at the Town Hall.

Registration during the rest of the year: February to September

The electoral register is updated monthly, so you can register to vote at any time of the year.

Register to vote

If you prefer a paper form or don't have internet access, contact us with your name and address, and we'll send you a form.

Check if your name is on the electoral register

Please contact us using the details at the bottom of the page and we will check for you. There is no online access to the electoral register.

Remember to re-register when you move house

Every time you move house, you need to re-register to vote. You can do this on the GOV.UK website. If you prefer a paper form or don't have internet access, contact us with your name and address, and we'll send you a form.

If you've already submitted an annual canvass registration form since moving, you don't need to register again.

If you move during the annual canvass then you should complete the annual canvass forms to reflect your address on 15 December. If you move after completing the annual canvass form, update your details on the GOV.UK website or request a paper form from us.

Why registration matters

You need to be on the electoral register to vote in all UK elections and referendums. You are not automatically registered even if you pay council tax. Not being registered will also affect your credit rating.

Eligibility for Registration

You can register to vote if you are:

• 16 or older (but you can't vote until 18)
• A citizen of Britain, Ireland, the Commonwealth and the following EU countries: Denmark, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal and Spain.

The arrangements for all other EU citizens have changed. Please see the Changes for some EU Citizens pages on the Electoral Commission website for more information

No fixed residence or in long-term hospital stay?

If you don't have a permanent residence (e.g. you're rough sleeping or sofa surfing) or don't stay in the same place for long periods (e.g. you live on a houseboat), you can make a Declaration of Local Connection.

If you are a long-term resident of a medical hospital, you can register at what have been your usual address if you weren't in hospital.

If you are a long-term in-patient at a mental health institution:

• if your stay is less than six months, you can register at what have been your usual address if you weren't in hospital
• if your stay is longer or if you prefer, you can register a Declaration of Local Connection at the hospital

For more information and registration forms, visit to the Electoral Commission's website.

Student registration

Students can register at both their home and university addresses. However, voting more than once in a national election is an offence. For local elections, voting at both addresses is allowed, provided they're in different local authorities.

For more details, visit the Electoral Commission's student pages.

Registration timeline

Applications received before the middle of the month will appear from the first working day of the following month. Exceptions apply during:

• elections, when different deadlines apply
• the annual canvass (normally 1 September to 30 November), when changes will appear when the new register is published on 1 December

Postal and proxy voting

Apply for a postal vote or proxy vote.

If you would prefer a paper form please contact us by email.