What does a South Belfast resident have to do to get on the Electoral Register?
Even if you do not intend to vote, not registering is an offence and you could be fined up to £1,000. In addition, if you are not on the register you may find it difficult to get a loan, open a bank account or get credit. By law, you must put your name, full address, nationality, date of birth, national insurance number and signature on the registration form. Any time you need to update your details you will need to complete a new registration form, “unnecessary” duplication which Alex Maskey has blamed for putting people off registering. But apart from filling out the detailed registration form, you also have to provide evidence of your age, address and residency and maybe even your name, nationality and national insurance number “to ensure the Electoral Register is accurate and to reduce the risk of both identity theft and electoral fraud”. Any documents you send in must be originals, photocopies will not be accepted, and must be no more than six or in some cases, no more than three,
