New electoral register forms

[**caution**opinion_ahead]

OK, am just curious here.  Have received a form to fill in for the electoral register and it asks for my National Insurance number.  Now, I'm pretty certain I have never had to give that information before for the purpose of registering to vote, so I asked someone who lives in a different county to me if they are being asked for it and they are not.

Which got me thinking.    Why would my Council want it?  And why would other Councils not want it?  I appreciate it is not going to be published actually on the electoral role, but if I supply it and they are careless with the data, it would be identify theft heaven for whoever's lap it fell into. 

So, just out of interest, if anyone else has one of these to fill in, could they tell me if they have been asked for this and which county they are in.

I'm in West Sussex. 

[taylor-books]

We have had a letter about the electoral list and it said we did not have to do anything, we are in Kent.

Make sure to tick that you do not want to be on the open list as that means anyone can buy your information.

[al**bear]

filled in one last year - no NI number

north of the border, Caution

as above, tick the box to stay off open list, not been on that for many many years

no matter what they tell you , it doesn't matter, unless you have no credit History

[**caution**opinion_ahead]

Thanks, Taylor.  So it would seem Essex and Kent do not need NI numbers.

Yes, I always decline the invitation to be on the open list.   Personally, I don't think an open register should exist in any form.  It is not the Council's job to go around supplying marketing opportunities for all and sundry.

[**caution**opinion_ahead]

Thanks, Al.  You snuck in there whilst I was answering Taylor.

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@al**bear wrote:

no matter what they tell you , it doesn't matter, unless you have no credit History

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Why would credit history matter when ascertaining the right to vote though?

[al**bear]

No

they try and tell you, if you keep yourself off the open voters roll, it will lower your chances of getting credit

nothing to do with voting

[**caution**opinion_ahead]

Ah, yes, I see what you mean.

I have no desire for credit, so that is one less thing to worry about.

[cee-dee]

I had a notification and it said if nothing had changed I'd no need to do anything so they're not asking for a NI number here either.

They are doing this though, see they're using Experian?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-28783874

[**caution**opinion_ahead]

Thanks, CD.

I have no issue with councils checking whether discounts are valid.  However, they would not need a person's NI number to do this.  They could simply knock on the door and ask to see how many toothbrushes are on display in the bathroom.

Simples!

[cee-dee]

What are you going to put in the box provided for the NI number, MYOB?

[**caution**opinion_ahead]

Tempting!

By filling in a physical form, rather than an online one, I can just ignore it.  I may add a covering letter.