With the UK Parliamentary general election less than 6 months away, it’s now more important than ever to ensure that you register to vote. If you aren’t registered, you won’t have a say on who represents you. Something people often overlook is how much of an impact being on the electoral register can have on an application for credit. This is because credit reference agencies can use the electoral register to confirm where you live in order to counteract fraud. It also helps them verify who you are and where you have been living in the past. If you are thinking about buying a home and will need a mortgage being on the electoral register could make the difference to whether you pass a lenders credit checks or not, so it’s really important you are registered.
People who have recently changed their address are considerably under-represented on the electoral register. Research published by the Electoral Commission in July 2014 showed that just 40.1% of those who had moved house within one year were registered to vote. The corresponding figure for those who had lived in their home for more than 16 years was 93.9%! If you are unsure whether you are registered to vote, contact your local electoral registration office. To get their contact details please visit www.aboutmyvote.co.uk. To register to vote online, go to www.gov.uk/register-to-vote. Your vote matters. Make sure you’re in.
