How to look for records of... Electoral registration
How can I view the records covered in this guide?
View online
How many are online?
- None
- Some
- All
Order copies
We can either copy our records onto paper or deliver them to you digitally
Pay for research
Use our paid search service or find an independent researcher
Visit us
Visit us in Kew to see original documents or view online records for free
This is a brief guide to researching records of historic electoral registers. The National Archives does not hold any complete collections of electoral registers. The British Library holds a complete set from 1947 onwards, and older electoral registers are held mostly by local archives.
What do I need to know before I start?
Try to find out:
- the name of the person
- a street address
- a date range to focus your search
What records can I see online?
Some electoral registers and poll books are available on commercial websites such as Ancestry £ and findmypast £ and it is likely that more will be added in the near future. To find out what is available look on family history websites or use a search engine such as Google.
What records can I find at The National Archives at Kew?
There are no complete collections of electoral registers at The National Archives.
What records can I find in other archives and organisations?
Local electoral registers
Find contact details for the relevant local archive using Find an archive.
Electoral registers from 1947 onwards
Search the collection of electoral registers at the British Library from 1947 onwards.
Electoral registers in Wales and Scotland
The National Library of Wales and National Library of Scotland hold many sets of electoral registers for their respective regions.
What other resources will help me find information?
Read Parliamentary Constituencies and their Registers since 1832 by Richard H A Cheffins which is available to download from the British Library.
Did you know?
Electoral registers were introduced in 1832 and, with a few exceptions, have been produced annually ever since.
Older sets of electoral registers are most likely to be found in local archives.
When looking for a person on an electoral register, you will find their full name, their residence, and the property on which they qualify to vote (this is not always the same as residence).
There is no name index to non-current electoral registers, so it is vital to know the street of the person you are looking for.
