How to look for records of... Electoral registration
The National Archives does not hold any complete collections of electoral registers. This guide will direct you to some of the archives and organisations that do hold historical electoral registers.
Electoral registers were introduced in 1832 and, with a few exceptions, have been produced annually ever since. If you know what area a person lives or lived in you may be able to find their address in an electoral register – though the property through which they qualified to vote is not always the same as their home address.
Where to go for records and advice
- An increasing number of electoral registers and poll books are available on commercial websites such as Ancestry.co.uk (£) and Findmypast.co.uk (£).
- The electoral registers from 2002 onwards are available online at 192.com (£).
- Go to the British Library to consult the national collection of printed electoral registers. They hold a complete set of electoral registers from 1947 onwards.
- Go to local reference libraries and archives for electoral registers covering the respective local area. Find contact details for local archives using Find an archive.
- For electoral registers in Wales and Scotland go to the National Library of Wales and National Library of Scotland.
- Download and read Parliamentary Constituencies and their Registers since 1832 by Richard H A Cheffins, available from the British Library website.