Electoral services
Welcome to the Electoral Services section of
Dartford Borough Council's website. Please choose one of the areas for more information:
- 2008 Register of Electors
- Your Right to Vote in Dartford - Don't Lose It
- Why should I vote?
- Upcoming Events
- Postal and Proxy voting
- Overseas and Service voters
- Young voters
- Elections in Dartford: results and vacancies
- Thinking of becoming a Councillor?
2008 Register of Electors
The 2008 Register of Electors was published on 3rd December 2007. The Register can be viewed by any member of the public at the Civic Centre during normal office hours.
Your Right to Vote in Dartford – Don’t Lose It
Whether you are moving within the Borough or just moving into Dartford, don’t forget:
Make sure you are Correctly Registered as an Elector
Please note:
- With the Rolling Register of Electors, the onus is on You, not the Council, to ensure that your details are accurate and up to date
- Even if only moving within the Borough you need to complete an Application to register as an elector form, to ‘move’ your vote to your new address
- Due to data protection, also finance and electoral legislation as it currently stands, registering for Council Tax does not mean you are automatically added to the Register of Electors
If you have any concerns whatsoever, either:
- Telephone the Electoral Registration Section on: (01322) 343426, or
- Write to us at:
Electoral Registration Department Dartford Borough Council Room C10 Civic Centre Home Gardens Dartford DA1 1DR
- Also, view Who Has My Personal Details? for further information.
Although not a key concern when you are actually moving, it may become so if you wish to vote and do not receive your poll cards at your new address. Therefore, please help us to register you correctly in Dartford.
Let us know you’ve moved in and maintain your right to vote
Why Should I Vote?
Voting is the most important way to make your voice heard on the issues that concern you.
Decisions are made on your behalf every day, ranging from what is happening in local schools and what recreational facilities you have, to national issues like healthcare and education, to global issues like defence and the environment.
In many countries around the world, including the UK, people have fought to gain the right to vote.
The right for women to vote on equal terms with men in the UK was still being argued about only 70 years ago. But having the right to vote is not enough. A strong and stable democracy also relies on people using their votes.
From Autumn 2002 citizenship was introduced to the national curriculum. This means that all young people will be able to learn about politics and voting.
By voting, you can hold your elected representatives accountable.
Elections are held in Dartford for Parish, Borough and County Councillors, as well as for Members of Parliament and Members of the European Parliament. Other opportunities to express your view may also arise in the form of a Referendum, like for example when we entered the EEC.
Upcoming Events
The annual canvass of electors will begin early September. Dartford Borough Council area residents will be required to complete their household canvass forms accurately, to ensure their correct details are published in the updated 2009 Register of Electors on 1 December.
Unchanged details can be confirmed quickly and easily online, by telephone, or for the first time this year by SMS (text) using a two-part security code printed on top of the form. If household circumstances have changed, however, the details on the form must be amended, the form signed and returned to the Dartford Civic Centre in a postage paid envelope provided. Responses will be needed by return.
Householders who are moving house before 15 October will be asked to delete their details and then leave the form for any new occupiers. Residents moving after 15 October should respond to the form from their current address. The canvass ensures that the borough’s electoral roll is as up to date as possible, based on the relevant date of 15 October.
The new 2009 Register of Electors will be published on Monday 1 December, the first working day of December. Only those named on the register will be eligible to vote from that date in any elections and referendums. If residents’ names do not appear accurately on the register, this will also affect their credit reference status.
To confirm details, householders will be referred to easy-to-follow instructions on the registration form. They can also call the Electoral Registration office on 01322 343426.
