Everyone across the UK is being warned they must register to vote before the July 5 elections – or face an £80 fine.
Every year, the Electoral Commission sends letters and emails – or even someone to knock on your door – to urge households to register to vote.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has called a General Election for July 5, with voters across the UK being primed to go to the polls and decide the future of government for the next five years, picking between Rishi Sunak‘s Conservatives and Keir Starmer‘s Labour.
But what many don’t realise is that it’s actually an offence to ignore the request to register to vote and you could end up slapped with an £80 fine.
Indeed, the UK government website says: “You must register to vote if you’re asked to do so and you meet the conditions for registering, for example you’re 16 or over and you’re British or a national of an EU or Commonwealth country.
“From July each year Electoral Registration Offices (EROs) contact households to check if the details on the electoral register are correct. This is called the annual canvass.
You will be contacted by post, email, phone or by someone knocking on your door.
“If you’re asked to register and do not, you could be fined.”
Legal expert Adam Pope from Spencer Churchill Claims Advice says the fine will be £80 if you miss the June 18 deadline to register to vote.
He said: “£80 fine for not registering. The upcoming general election highlights the importance of knowing how to vote and meeting the necessary deadlines. Statistics show that up to 8 million people in the UK might not be correctly registered at their current address, which may exclude them from participating.
“While casting a vote is voluntary, failing to register without a valid reason can result in a fine of £80. Voters have multiple ways to cast their ballots, including in person, by post, or through a proxy. It’s essential to follow the application deadlines, as registration must be done 12 working days before polling day.”
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