Privacy Glossary · Definition

Open Electoral Register

The "edited" version of the UK electoral roll that anyone, including marketers and people-search sites, can legally buy, and that you can opt out of.

Full definition

The UK electoral register exists in two versions. The full register can be used only for electoral administration, campaigning activities, preventing and detecting crime, checking loan or credit applications, and jury summoning in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The open (or "edited") register can be purchased for purposes allowed by the relevant rules, including some marketing and people-search uses. GOV.UK says you can opt out for free through your local council's Electoral Registration Office without losing your right to vote. That reduces one source of future exposure, but it does not erase Companies House records, telephone-directory data, other broker copies, or search-engine results.

Source: GOV.UK: Opt out of the open register

Go deeper

UK data removal guide →