To not register to vote, please help

[haventescapedtime]

I am looking for some advice desperately.

I have received the form to register to vote to my home. I am a domestic violence victim and my ex husband is severely mentally unstable (has been an inpatient) including threats of suicide, extreme thoughts etc.

I am at a loss what to do, I am aware my ex husband would have no issue in searching the records at our local library (my child let slip which town we are in during email contact and it is one of the smaller ones, I am also aware that there have been mistakes when passing the information to the credit reference agency and details have been put on the wrong register.

He is currently repeatedly asking for my address via his email contact for my daughter so would look. There are no court orders in place as he has no interest in the child just in controlling me.

However because I fled with my child to a friends and did not report to the police I do not qualify for anon registration nor can you use a known as name any more. A domestic violence advisor told me some years ago just not to register, I am in private let, don't have or want credit and have had credit checks for rental with no issue and to be honest mine and my child's safety is more important to me than my right to vote however now there is information that you will be fined if you do not register.

If I HAVE to register than I am going to have to change my name by deed poll or move again. Can you please advise. If I did change by deed poll what would I need to supply to register? If I moved before December would I need to be registered here? Please help me.

I will PM you, there's a way around this, don't panic xxx

If you change your name by deed poll (which might be a good long term option) As far as I know you can fill in the form with your new name, no need to provide evidence. You can then inform banks with certificate / change daughter's name etc. Using a deed poll cert for change of name needs less documentation (and faff) than marriage certs / divorce etc. You can slso change your legal name(s) but still be called your name.

Have you phoned your local Electoral Registration Office for advice?

There shouldn't be any need to change your name. It may be a discretionary thing but I found my local electoral officer really helpful and sympathetic and she sorted it for me.
It is worth a try.

Yes I have spoken to them MaidOfStars.
They were utterly useless. Basically told me he was not likely to find me even if he searched the records in our local library and I should just get on with it basically.

Thanks so much IRuth will go and check.

Does anyone else have any advice please

Sorry you already tried that. I wonder if Womens Aid would have any ideas?

You tick the box that keeps your details off the main published register.
But it's worth phoning WA to see what they say, too

Both registers are published in different formats. One is made available commercially; the other is made available for inspection by members of the public, and as such can be used to trawl through by anyone desperate enough and with a vague idea of where someone lives.

So keeping your name off the edited version is not always enough to be able to sleep at night.

I think you need to think about how safe you feel currently. Knowing that he knows your town does this bother you? Do you panic about that? If him knowing the town has you paniced then moving may be the best option. If you moved (even if just locally) that would make it harder for him to find you. Changing your name would add a layer of protection and although faffy is not too expensive (and you can keep official docs in original name until they expire, I used 2 names for a few years)

Speak to womens aid about how you feel about your safety and see what they advise. You need to feel that you and your child are safe. Take whatever steps you need to do that. If that includes not registering to vote so be it. Your safety comes first.