Anonymous elector
Encyclopedia
An anonymous elector is generally a registered voter whose safety would be at risk if their details were available on a public electoral register
.
, a voter anonymously registered is known as a silent elector. To be a silent elector, a voter must satisfy the Divisional Returning Officer that his/her safety or that of any other person living in the same household would be at risk if his/her name and address were printed in the electoral register
. Silent elector registration forms must be returned by post, not by fax or by e-mail.
, or a letter from either a Barrister or Solicitor, your employer, a Justice of the Peace, or the like, supporting the application on the grounds that the applicant's personal safety, or that of his/her family, could be prejudiced by the publication of his/her name and details. An elector remains on the unpublished roll until such time as his/her circumstances change.
that his/her safety or that of any other person living in the same household would be at risk if his/her name and address were printed in the electoral register
.
A voter can apply to be an anonymous elector at any time by using registration forms available from local Electoral Registration Officer
s or the Electoral Commission
's website. The applicant must state a reason about why he/she or someone else in the same household would be at risk should his/her name and address be publicly available in the electoral register
. In addition, the application must be supported either by a court order or an attestation. Attestations can be made by a police officer of or above the rank of superintendent of any UK police force, the Director General of the Security Service or the Serious Organised Crime Agency, a director of adult social services or children’s services in England
, a director of social services in Wales
, any chief social work officer in Scotland
or any director of social services of a Health and Social Services Board or executive director of social work of a Health and Social Services Trust in Northern Ireland
. Application forms can be returned to the local Electoral Registration Officer by post, by fax or by e-mail as a scanned attachment.
Once the anonymous elector application has been accepted by the Electoral Registration Officer
, the applicant's entry in the Electoral Register
appears as an elector number and the letter N, rather than his/her name and address. Only the Returning Officer
, the jury service in England and Wales
, the security services and police forces have access to the name and address of anonymous electors. A 'Certificate of anonymous registration' is then issued to the anonymous elector in case he/she needs to prove his/her identity and address in order to obtain credit or to donate money or loan money to a political party/candidate (but this involves handing over name and address details to a third party, the anonymous elector should only do this if he/she is absolutely confident that the other party will keep the information secure). The anonymous elector application lasts 12 months, after which it must be renewed.
To vote in person, an anonymous elector must take the poll card received in the post.
Electoral register
The electoral roll is a listing of all those registered to vote in a particular area. The register facilitates the process of voting, helps to prevent fraud and may also be used to select people for jury duty...
.
Australia
In AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, a voter anonymously registered is known as a silent elector. To be a silent elector, a voter must satisfy the Divisional Returning Officer that his/her safety or that of any other person living in the same household would be at risk if his/her name and address were printed in the electoral register
Electoral register
The electoral roll is a listing of all those registered to vote in a particular area. The register facilitates the process of voting, helps to prevent fraud and may also be used to select people for jury duty...
. Silent elector registration forms must be returned by post, not by fax or by e-mail.
New Zealand
An eligible elector who believes that having his/her details entered on the publicly viewable electoral roll could threaten his/her personal safety or that of his/her family can apply for his/her details be included only on the unpublished roll. The application must be accompanied by evidence, such as a copy of a protection order that is in force under the Domestic Violence Act 1995, a copy of a restraining order that is in force under the Harassment Act 1997, a statutory declaration from a member of the New Zealand PoliceNew Zealand Police
The New Zealand Police is the national police force of New Zealand, responsible for enforcing criminal law, enhancing public safety, maintaining order and keeping the peace throughout New Zealand...
, or a letter from either a Barrister or Solicitor, your employer, a Justice of the Peace, or the like, supporting the application on the grounds that the applicant's personal safety, or that of his/her family, could be prejudiced by the publication of his/her name and details. An elector remains on the unpublished roll until such time as his/her circumstances change.
United Kingdom
A person who qualifies to register to vote can be registered anonymously if he/she can satisfy the Electoral Registration OfficerElectoral Registration Officer
In the United Kingdom, an Electoral Registration Officer is a person who has the statutory duty to compile and maintain the electoral roll...
that his/her safety or that of any other person living in the same household would be at risk if his/her name and address were printed in the electoral register
Electoral register
The electoral roll is a listing of all those registered to vote in a particular area. The register facilitates the process of voting, helps to prevent fraud and may also be used to select people for jury duty...
.
A voter can apply to be an anonymous elector at any time by using registration forms available from local Electoral Registration Officer
Electoral Registration Officer
In the United Kingdom, an Electoral Registration Officer is a person who has the statutory duty to compile and maintain the electoral roll...
s or the Electoral Commission
Electoral Commission (United Kingdom)
The Electoral Commission is an independent body set up by the UK Parliament. It regulates party and election finance and sets standards for well-run elections...
's website. The applicant must state a reason about why he/she or someone else in the same household would be at risk should his/her name and address be publicly available in the electoral register
Electoral register
The electoral roll is a listing of all those registered to vote in a particular area. The register facilitates the process of voting, helps to prevent fraud and may also be used to select people for jury duty...
. In addition, the application must be supported either by a court order or an attestation. Attestations can be made by a police officer of or above the rank of superintendent of any UK police force, the Director General of the Security Service or the Serious Organised Crime Agency, a director of adult social services or children’s services in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, a director of social services in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, any chief social work officer in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
or any director of social services of a Health and Social Services Board or executive director of social work of a Health and Social Services Trust in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. Application forms can be returned to the local Electoral Registration Officer by post, by fax or by e-mail as a scanned attachment.
Once the anonymous elector application has been accepted by the Electoral Registration Officer
Electoral Registration Officer
In the United Kingdom, an Electoral Registration Officer is a person who has the statutory duty to compile and maintain the electoral roll...
, the applicant's entry in the Electoral Register
Electoral register
The electoral roll is a listing of all those registered to vote in a particular area. The register facilitates the process of voting, helps to prevent fraud and may also be used to select people for jury duty...
appears as an elector number and the letter N, rather than his/her name and address. Only the Returning Officer
Returning Officer
In various parliamentary systems, a returning officer is responsible for overseeing elections in one or more constituencies.-Australia:In Australia a returning officer is an employee of the Australian Electoral Commission or a State Electoral Commission who heads the local divisional office...
, the jury service in England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales is a jurisdiction within the United Kingdom. It consists of England and Wales, two of the four countries of the United Kingdom...
, the security services and police forces have access to the name and address of anonymous electors. A 'Certificate of anonymous registration' is then issued to the anonymous elector in case he/she needs to prove his/her identity and address in order to obtain credit or to donate money or loan money to a political party/candidate (but this involves handing over name and address details to a third party, the anonymous elector should only do this if he/she is absolutely confident that the other party will keep the information secure). The anonymous elector application lasts 12 months, after which it must be renewed.
To vote in person, an anonymous elector must take the poll card received in the post.