Collection

Individual Electoral Registration (IER)

This collection brings together all documents relating to Individual Electoral Registration.

• From: Cabinet Office
• Published: 11 October 2013
• Last updated: 12 August 2015 — See all updates

In 2014 we replaced the outdated ‘household registration’ system to give each individual control over their own registration – the new system is called Individual Electoral Registration (IER). You can now register to vote online in as little as 3 minutes. All you need is your name, address, date of birth and National Insurance number.

Voting is our democratic right and we want to make sure that everyone who is entitled to vote is able to vote. The new register will be more accurate and we can verify that everyone on the register is who they say they are. This will ensure that there is greater trust in the legitimacy and fairness of our elections.

There are 2 versions of the electoral register – the ‘full’ and the ‘open’ version. If you want to opt out of the open register, contact your local Electoral Registration Office.

What you need to know

• About Individual Electoral Registration (IER)
  • 3 July 2013
  • Guidance

Progress on transition

• Individual Electoral Registration hits major milestone
  • 12 August 2015
  • News story
• Completing the move to Individual Electoral Registration
  • 16 July 2015
  • News story
• Government funds NUS competition to get students to #RegistertoVote
  • 24 February 2015
  • Press release
• Local authorities receive additional £20 million for voter registration
  • 24 February 2015
  • Press release
• New campaign to encourage under-registered groups to register to vote
  • 4 February 2015
  • Press release
• £10 million boost for voter registration
  • 9 January 2015
  • Press release
• 9 in 10 automatically transfer to the new system for voter registration
  • 21 October 2014
  • Press release
• Electoral registration in Scotland updated for the 21st century
  • 17 October 2014
  • Press release
• 100,000 more people join electoral register thanks to campaign
  • 8 September 2014
  • Press release
• One million voters applied to register to vote since new government system launched
  • 27 August 2014
  • Press release
• Biggest change to voter registration in a generation
  • 3 July 2014
  • Press release
• Register to vote: new online service launched
  • 10 June 2014
  • News story
• New government report shows success of data matching in switch to Individual Electoral Registration
  • 23 October 2013
  • Press release
• Chloe Smith speech on Individual Electoral Registration
  • 11 September 2013
  • Speech
• Royal Assent keeps individual electoral registration on track for 2014
  • 1 February 2013
  • Press release
• Transition to Individual Electoral Registration
  • 17 July 2012
  • Policy paper

Legislation

• Individual Electoral Registration: draft secondary legislation
  • 18 June 2012
  • Policy paper
• Individual Electoral Registration: draft legislation
  • 30 June 2011
  • Policy paper
• Individual Electoral Registration – draft legislation
  • 30 June 2011
  • Consultation outcome

Research and evaluation

• Using data matching to confirm electors in Great Britain
  • 26 November 2014
  • Policy paper
• Using data matching to confirm electors: interim evaluation
  • 26 November 2014
  • Policy paper
• Maximising electoral registration: evaluation of local activities
  • 8 September 2014
  • Policy paper
• Evaluation: confirming electors through data matching
  • 21 October 2014
  • Policy paper
• Data matching to make individual electoral registration easier
  • 11 September 2013
  • Press release
• Individual Electoral Registration: data matching methodology
  • 21 August 2013
  • Policy paper
• Electoral registration: factors in England and Wales
  • 6 August 2013
  • Policy paper
• Under-registered groups and Individual Electoral Registration
  • 26 July 2012
  • Policy paper
• Improving the electoral register through data matching
  • 17 July 2013
  • Policy paper
• Simplifying the transition to Individual Electoral Registration
  • 17 April 2013
  • Research and analysis
• Individual Electoral Registration: impact assessment
  • 19 February 2013
  • Impact assessment
• Government introduces legislation for individual electoral registration
  • 10 May 2012
  • Press release

Published 11 October 2013
Last updated 12 August 2015 + show all updates

1. 12 August 2015

   Added 'Individual Electoral Registration hits major milestone'.

2. 24 February 2015

   Added press releases on funding for local authorities and student organisations.

3. 4 February 2015

   Added press release on new campaign to encourage under-registered groups to register to vote.

4. 12 January 2015

   Added press release: £10 million boost for voter registration.

5. 7 January 2015

   Added information about opting out of the open register.

6. 26 November 2014

   Added research report: Using data matching to confirm electors in Great Britain.

7. 21 October 2014

   Added information on interim evaluation of confirmation: using data matching to confirm electors.

8. 17 October 2014

   Added press release on electoral registration in Scotland.

9. 8 September 2014

   Added press release on 100,000 more people join electoral register and the Maximising Electoral Registration evaluation report.

10. 27 August 2014

    Added new press release on 1 million voters applying to register to vote.

11. 3 July 2014

    Added 'Biggest change to voter registration in a generation' press release.

12. 11 October 2013

    First published.