The Electoral Register

Electoral Registration Officers keep two version of the register - the electoral register and the open register (also known as the edited register).

The electoral (full) register

The electoral register is used for electoral purposes and it lists the names and addresses of everyone who is registered to vote.

It can also be used:

• to check credit applications
• to call people for jury service
• for the prevention and detection of crime
• by candidates, registered political parties and other registered campaigners for election or referendum campaigning activities

The current electoral register is a public document which can be viewed under strict control at the Sunderland Winter Gardens, Burdon Road, Sunderland, SR1 1PP.

Historical electoral registers can be viewed under strict control at Washington Central Library Local Studies, Independence Square, The Galleries, Washington, NE38 7RZ.  By law you cannot take any copies of the register, either paper or photographic, although handwritten notes are allowed.

The open (edited) register

The open register is an extract of the electoral register, but it is not used for elections. This version is available to anyone who wants to buy it, such as businesses or charities.

You can find more information on The Electoral Commissions page.

Opting out of the open register

Your name and address will be included in the open register unless you ask for them to be removed. Removing your details from the open register does not affect your right to vote.

When you apply to register to vote, you will be given the choice to opt out of the open register as part of your application.

If you are already registered and want to opt out, please email us at elections@sunderland.gov.uk confirming that you would like to opt out of the open register and provide your full name and address.

Registration dates

The electoral register is normally updated on the first working day of every month.  The table below sets out the dates we need to have received your application so that your name can be added to the register the next month.

It also has the dates we need to have received any further evidence from you so your details can be added to the register.

Note that during an election we publish extra alterations to the register in addition to those dates listed above. 

Checking you're registered to vote

To check if you're registered to vote, please email us at elections@sunderland.gov.uk or call us on 0191 5205550, including your full name and address.

Credit and Credit Reference Agencies

Credit Reference Agencies are entitled to purchase a COPY of the electoral register when it is published, usually on 1 December each year (delayed until 1 February in 2025 due to the Parliamentary eelction in July 2024). Some credit reference agencies (not all) also purchase copies of the alterations to the register which we publish on a monthly basis as set out in right hand column of the table above.

It is important to understand that Credit Reference Agencies do not have direct access to the electoral register. If you're denied credit or are told you have a low credit score because your name is not on the electoral register, what this actually means is that you may not appear on their COPY, which could be weeks or even months out of date depending on when they last purchased it or when they last processed the alterations.

For example (looking at the table above), if you apply to register to vote on 8 February 2025, you'll have missed appearing on the register updates that we will publish on 3 March and won't actually appear until the register is next published on 1 April, nearly 2 months later. This means that if you applied between 8 February and 10 March, and checked your credit score, the credit reference agency may incorrectly tell you that you are not registered to vote. You will be (so long as the application is determined without queries), but the very earliest the Credit Reference Agencies will have your registration details in that case is 1 April. 

We have no control over the data once it is passed onto each Credit Reference Agency. We cannot contact Credit Reference Agencies for you to discuss your registration status on their records, your application for credit or people previously registered at your address. You will have to contact the respective Credit Reference Agency directly.