Local Council Elections 2022

Local elections will take place in Hartlepool on Thursday 5th May. On this page you will find a range of information about the elections.

Have you registered to vote?

It is easy to register to vote. The following link will take you to the Government website where you can:

• Register to vote for the first time
• Check if you have registered before
• Update your registration details (e.g. if you have moved house since you registered)
• Get on or off the open register (more about this below)
• Download a paper registration form

If you have a learning disability you have the same right to vote as everyone else. The government have produced an easy read guide you can use alongside the website to help you register to vote.

The deadline to register for the May the 5th election is 11.59pm on the 14th April 2022.

Fact check: registering to vote

Can you detect the facts from the fiction in these statements?

Statement 1: I pay council tax, so I'm already registered to vote

Fiction: Council tax records and the electoral register contain different information. Council tax records hold the name of the bill payer, but not necessarily all the people who live at the property. For this and many other legal reasons, the electoral registration officer is not allowed to take names from council tax and add them to the electoral register.

Statement 2: I can boost my credit score by registering to vote

Fact: The electoral register can help confirm your name and address which can boost your credit score. Additionally, if lenders cannot confirm your details via the electoral register then they may ask for additional proof which can delay applications, so registering to vote can help save you time if you plan to apply for credit (e.g. a mortgage or bank loan).

Statement 3: If I register to vote my details will be sold to marketing companies who will send me junk mail

Bit of both: There are two versions of the register; the "electoral register" and the "open register". The electoral register is used only for electoral purposes (e.g. making sure only those who are eligible to vote can do so and sending you your polling card), calling people for jury service, preventing and detecting crime and checking applications for credit. The details on the electoral register cannot be sold to or accessed by marketing companies.

On the other hand the open register is available for general sale and can be used by direct marketing companies. However, you can opt-out of being on the open register. You can check which register you are on and change your preferences via this link.

Note: if you have registered anonymously (because it would be unsafe for you to register your details) your name and address will not appear on either the electoral or open registers but you will still be able to vote. Find out more here.

Statement 4: You have to re-register every time you want to vote

Fiction: Once you have registered you will remain registered for all future elections and referendums. You only need to register again if you move house or change your name (e.g. if you get married or divorced). Every now and again you will get a letter from the council asking if anything has changed since you registered. This is just a reminder to update your details if there is a change. If your details have not changed then you don't need to do anything.