Opt out of the open register

Last checked: 28 Sep 2026; links rechecked 12 Oct 2026

The UK electoral register comes in two versions. The open register (called the edited register in Northern Ireland) can be bought by any person, company or organisation, including for direct marketing and online directories. Opting out of it is free, doesn't affect your right to vote, and can be done at any time.

How to opt out

1. If you're registering to vote (or re-registering after a move), choose to be left out of the open register on the register to vote service.
2. If you're already registered, contact your council's electoral registration office. Find yours by postcode. In Northern Ireland, contact the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland (EONI).
3. Give your full name and address, and say you want to be left out of the open register. In England and Wales, that's what the regulations require for the request.

The open register is updated monthly.

What opting out does and doesn't change

• It removes you from future copies of the open register. The full register isn't affected.
• The full register is still used for its legal purposes: running elections, preventing and detecting crime, checking applications for loans or credit, and calling people for jury service. Credit reference agencies receive it for credit checks, not for marketing.
• Copies already sold. GOV.UK and the regulator don't say whether opting out affects copies that have already been sold. Some sites keep older registers: 192.com says it holds open registers back to 2003. To be removed from those, ask each site directly. See removing your details from people-search sites.

Who uses the open register

Several UK marketing-data companies and directory sites name the open register as a source in their own privacy notices, including Experian, Equifax, TransUnion, Acxiom, Sagacity, 192.com and ukphonebook. That's why opting out is usually the first step. The next is opting out of the credit agencies' marketing services.

If you're at risk

If your safety could be at risk if your name or address appeared on the register, you can ask your electoral registration officer about anonymous registration.

Sources

• GOV.UK: Opt out of the open register
• GOV.UK: Contact your electoral registration office
• GOV.UK: Register to vote
• Information Commission (formerly the ICO): The electoral register (updated 8 Mar 2024)
• Representation of the People (England and Wales) Regulations 2001, reg. 93A
• 192.com help (sources and historical registers)
• Experian consumer information portal (sources, including the edited electoral roll)
• TransUnion marketing services privacy notice

This page describes your options and how organisations say they handle requests. It isn't legal advice. See About & sourcing to report a correction.