To receive a copy of the Voter Registration Form please fill out the Voter Registration Form application on-line. We will send you the required form in the post for security reasons.

To qualify to vote and to be included on the form you should be over the age of 18 and:

• a British, Commonwealth or Irish citizen : you are eligible to vote in all elections;
• a European Union citizen : you are eligible to vote in local elections, and you may choose whether to vote here or in your own country in European parliamentary elections. You may not vote in general parliamentary elections; or
• one of the two options listed above and having your 18th birthday between now and next year. You should give the date of birth where indicated on the form and you can then vote in any elections held on or after your birthday.

If you are on the electoral register (see above) and eligible to vote in a particular election, you will automatically be sent a poll card before the election. The poll card will tell you where your polling station is and the hours that it will be open for you to go along and vote.

You don't have to wait for an election to apply for a postal or proxy vote. Simply get in touch with us at any time, saying whether you want a postal or proxy vote, and we will send you the appropriate form. You can apply for this form on-line. It will be sent to you via post for security reasons.

Be sure to return your application at least six days before any election though, otherwise you will be too late, whatever the reason.

Voting by post means that we send you the voting papers (at the address of your choice, even if outside Worthing). You must then complete and return the papers before the close of poll, either to the Town Hall or to a polling station (on election day). You don't have to give any reason for requesting a postal vote and you can choose whether you want it for a particular election only or for all elections until you notify us otherwise.

Voting by proxy means that you ask someone else to vote on your behalf, and that person can then choose whether to vote in person or by post. It can be anybody at all, either a member of your family or a friend, as long as you are happy that they will vote the way you want them to! If you want to vote by proxy you will have to give the reason, and depending on what it is you may have to provide an attestation of some kind.

To recieve a copy of the 'Postal Vote/Proxy Vote application form' please fill out the Postal /Proxy Registration Form.

To determine whether you live within the Borough of Worthing and in which electoral ward you reside please consult the Street Index Listing.

The electoral register is a list of all the people in Worthing who are eligible to vote in elections, separated into the twelve Wards of the Borough and laid out in alphabetical street order. If your name is not on the register then you are not entitled to vote.

An annual canvass is held in August/September every year when we deliver a form to each household in Worthing. Although you may choose whether or not you want to vote, you must complete and return the registration form, otherwise you may be liable to pay a fine of up to £1,000. The complete register as revised is then published on 1 December each year.

The register is updated regularly so, if you have just moved into the area or have recently changed address (since 15th October), please let us know and we will send you a new form to complete. A list of amendments is published monthly, except in the month prior to any election when no changes or additions can be accepted.

• For all information regarding Elections or Electoral Registration www.electoralcommission.gov.uk
• For information on how to register and vote and for downloadable forms www.aboutmyvote.co.uk

The two versions of the register

The electoral registration officer makes and keeps two versions of the electoral register - the full register and the edited register.

The full register

The full register lists everyone who is entitled to vote. You can check it by calling at the council offices. Only certain people and organisations can have copies of the full register, and they can only use it for specified purposes. These include electoral purposes, the prevention and detection of crime and checking your identity when you have applied for credit. The law says who can have a copy of the full register and what they can use it for. It is a criminal offence for them to pass it on to anyone else or to use it for any other purpose.

The edited register

The edited register leaves out the names and addresses of people who have asked to be excluded from that version of the register. The edited register can be bought by anyone who asks for a copy and they
may use it for any purpose.

Anyone wishing to be excluded from the edited version of the register should place a tick in the opt out box.

We have a Street Index Listing document that covers which ward your street comes under.

If you have any further questions or need help in completing any form please let us know, either by writing, visiting the Town Hall personally. We will be only too happy to answer your queries.

Please contact Electoral Services in your preferred method for assistance.