If you're not registered to vote yet, today is your LAST CHANCE

[policywonk]

Do it now, slatterns

Just in case you were on the edge of your seats - You don't have to register but you do have to provide information to the Electoral Registration Officer usually through the annual canvass return.

Any person who refuses to provide
the information that is required to prepare the register is liable on summary
conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale, currently set
at £1,000. Any person who knowingly provides false information in connection with registration is liable on summary conviction to a fine of up to £5,000, imprisonment of up to six months, or both. 11 Regulation 23(3), RPR 2001.

Now we can all rest easy.

Ohh.

What's the difference between being on the register, and providing info to the Register Officer? Can you do the latter without being on the former?

I'm on the electoral roll, do I still need to register????

No, you can't do the latter without doing the former. What happens is that the Electoral Registration officer sends out the annual canvass forms (i.e who is currently on the register at your property) - you then have to return that form saying it's right, or if not, providing the correct information on the form. The ERO then puts that information on the register. It's the FAILURE to provide the info, when you're asked for it that is the offence IYKWIM.

The law is pretty shite in this area tbh - too many laws - govts change them all the time.

Sorry to be so boring

SingleMum - if you've already registered then you would not need to do so - just ring them and check that you are registered though

Not boring at all I had no idea. It seems Saltire's council were within their rights after all.

Yeah, but you're not going to get done for it, nobody ever does, unless they're a total wanker.

I suppose it just depends on whether you answer the door when the knocker from the council comes round to find those who didn't return a form to confirm the details are correct.

However, I do find it odd that the website they have set up has no mention of being required to register, or that there's a chance of a fine if you don't.

Given the amount is above 750 (threshold for bankruptcy), what are the odds some councils will threaten that too, in future (given that they have done so for council tax arrears in some areas).

OK, I know that it's not the same (council tax owed to council, a fine would be owed to the court) but the way councils sometimes work, I would not expect them to worry about the facts... seeing as the amount is "up to 1000" yet the council states "a 1000 pound fine" (rather than "a fine of up to 1000 pounds" which is accurate, but not quite as threatening!)