Can you be fined for not registering to vote?

[filthiestfis]

I have received a voter registration form by post and on it, it says that I am required by law to give information about who is residing at my address or I could be fined up to 1000 pounds.

I find this hard to believe but has anyone been fined for not providing information to the electoral registration officer? Is this a threat that is actually carried out? Surely I could just turn around and say that I never received the letter?
I am not one bit interested in registering!

[Ice.Maiden]

Aren't these letters hand delivered from someone who works at the local office where these things are produced or sorted?

They'd know if you'd received one or not - but as to whether you'd get fined for not replying - I've no idea.

[filthiestfis]

Not hand delivered at all. Just dropped with normal post. Other neighbours have left theirs on the floor!

[Ice.Maiden]

Ah! Then if everyone else is doing it filthiestfis.....then you won't be alone if you get fined!!
I seriously doubt you would. Suppose it means that you just wouldn't be able to vote....and quite frankly, that doesn't seem like a bad idea to me. All tarred with the same brush.

[Buenchico]

Good evening, Ed.

In many countries the law not only requires that you must register to vote, but that you must also actually vote. So UK law is far less strict than in several other places.

If you don't respond for the first letter, you'll be sent a series of reminders, so the "I never received it" response won't work.

Do people get prosecuted? Yes, of course they do:
http://www.scarborough.gov.uk/default.aspx?pag e=14346

It's also worth remembering that you'll find it incredibly difficult (if not impossible) to get credit if your name isn't on the electoral roll. If you have to claim any benefits, such as Job Seeker's Allowance, you're likely to experience delays in payments if your name isn't there. And if you get questioned by the police (even though you might be totally innocent) you might have to be taken to a police station, while your identity is checked, if there's no record of you on the roll.

Chris

[hc4361]

8 people fined in London.
http://www.hounslow.gov.uk/news_mod_home/news_ mod_year/news_mod_month/news_mod_show?year1=20 09&month1=6&NewsID=38000

And another 17.
http://www.hounslowchronicle.co.uk/west-london -news/local-hounslow-news/2008/06/18/electoral -role-refusals-punished-with-fines-109642-2110 0243/

Fined for giving false information.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1454864 /Woman-fined-100-for-registering-cows-to-vote. html

And five more threatened with legal action.
http://www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/news/council_ne ws_-_dont_edit/may/council_takes_action.aspx

[Ice.Maiden]

Good grief! now...where did I put that form.......

[daffy654]

In our area if you don't return the form a person from the council comes round and requests that you fill in and sign the form there and then.It happened to us last year when we forgot all about it.

[filthiestfis]

LOL what ********! I am not actually registered at all in the UK and I have lived here for years...also I have been on jobseekers allowance before and not had a problem because of not being registered.
In addition, I have been able to obtain credit (loans, credit cards, overdraft) without problems over the years. So what is this all about then?
Anyway, lets wait and see...

[vignon]

So you don,t want to vote,Well better persons than you have died fighting for democracy so that you could.