Does Being Listed On The Electoral Register Affect Your Council Tax?

The electoral register and council tax are two important elements of the UK’s democracy. But do they have any influence on each other? In this blog post, we will explore the relationship between the electoral register and council tax to determine whether one affects the other or not. 

Does Being Listed On The Electoral Register Affect Your Council Tax?

No, being listed on the electoral register does not necessarily affect your council tax. The main reason for this is that both entities are separate and are not expected to exchange data with each other. 

Even if they did, it would not be a fruitful exercise as council tax records contain the name of the household member who is “liable” for council tax payments. These records may mention the name of the second adult living in the household but will not take into account, the name of all household members.

However, under certain circumstances being a registered voter can affect your council tax; but it all depends on individual situations. We will discuss this on a case-to-case basis by bringing some real-life situations under discussion.

For instance, being on the electoral register indicates that you are 18 or older. This means that you are being considered as one of the adults who is part of a household that is due for council tax payments. Even if you are not liable for council tax payments yourself, being listed on the electoral register and being considered an adult takes away the single-person discount of 25% that your parent (or any other adult household member) was able to avail as they were the only adult in the household.

Another situation to be considered is for people who do not have a fixed abode. This may be individuals who either live in a caravan and move around a lot or someone who is currently in a hospital or a shelter. Despite these housing situations and the chance of not being liable for council tax payments, such individuals can still be on the electoral register.

When it comes to council tax, it can generally be affected by the number and age of the residents in a household, if they are on a low income or faced with a disability or if the property is unoccupied or going through renovations. To learn more about council tax, you can consult your local council office.

What Happens If You Are Not Listed On The Electoral Register?

If you are not listed on the electoral register, you can face the following situations:

• You can lose your credit ratings as credit reference agencies look into your electoral registers for verification of applicants
• If you have repeatedly been asked to be listed on the electoral register and you have not responded, you can be fined by the authorities 

If you prefer to vote anonymously, you can choose to opt-out of the open register that allows public access to the registered voters’ list.

Can I Vote From A Different Address And Pay Council Tax At Another One? 

Yes, you can vote from a different address and pay council tax at another one; under certain conditions. Firstly, you will be registered to vote in the area where your main residence is. However, if you live in different places as if they were your main residence, you can be registered to vote from both of them.

For instance, if you live with a friend or family member during the week as their place is nearer to your place of work or study, this will be your main residence during the week. When you come home for the weekends, your own place becomes your main residence for which you will also be liable to pay council tax (you would not be liable for council tax for your friend or family’s residence). Since both residences serve as your main residence, you can be registered to vote from both of them.

Conclusion:

The above discussion brings us to the conclusion that being listed on the electoral register does not affect your council tax payments (or those of your family if you are not liable for payments). The electoral register and council tax payments are maintained by two separate departments that are not expected to exchange records with each other. That said, it is advisable to maintain correct data with both of them.

References:

Myths about voting and registering to vote South Staffordshire Council

Why you need to be on the Electoral Register – Fenland District Council

Electoral registration form for someone with no fixed or permanent address – GOV.UK