How to opt out of the open register (and what happens when you do)
The open register is the single biggest public source of UK names and addresses for marketers and people-search sites, and you can leave it in five minutes without losing your vote.
- Registering to vote now? Tick the box on GOV.UK's register to vote service to leave it.
- Already registered? Contact your council's electoral registration office (or the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland) and ask to be removed from the open register. Most accept email.
- Give your full name and address and say you want them removed from the open (edited) register. Each adult in the home asks for themselves.
Open register vs full register
| Full electoral register | Open register | |
|---|---|---|
| Who is on it | Everyone registered to vote | Everyone who hasn't opted out |
| Who can use it | Elections, credit checks, crime prevention and other lawful purposes | Anyone who buys it, for any purpose, including marketing |
| Can you leave it? | Only by registering anonymously, in specific circumstances | Yes, at any time, with no effect on voting |
| Affects credit checks? | Yes, lenders use it | No |
Why it matters
People-search sites such as 192.com, list brokers and direct-mail companies buy the open register and combine it with other data. Staying on it means your address can be re-added after you have asked a site to delete it. Opting out turns that tap off.
Pros and cons
- For opting out: less addressed junk mail over time, fewer people-search listings, less data for scammers.
- Against: very little. Some businesses use the open register to confirm addresses, so a few online checks may ask for more evidence. Voting and credit checks are unaffected.
After you opt out
- Ask people-search sites that already list you to remove your details.
- Register with the Mail Preference Service to cut addressed marketing post.
- Object to marketing use of your data by the credit reference agencies.
- Send erasure requests to the brokers that bought earlier copies. That is what Ceaselist automates.
Questions people ask
What happens if I opt out of the open register?
Your name and address are left off the version of the electoral register that anyone can buy, so marketers and people-search sites can't get them from new copies. You stay on the full register, so you can still vote and lenders can still use it for credit checks.
Does opting out of the open register affect my credit score?
No. Credit reference agencies use the full electoral register, which you remain on. Opting out of the open register does not change that.
What is the difference between the open register and the electoral register?
The full electoral register lists everyone registered to vote and is used only for elections and limited lawful purposes such as credit checks and crime prevention. The open register (also called the edited register) is an extract that anyone can buy, including marketers.
Is it a legal requirement to be on the open register?
No. Being registered to vote can be required when asked by your council, but appearing on the open register is optional. You can opt out at any time.
Will opting out remove me from copies already sold?
No. Opting out stops your details appearing in future versions. Copies already sold stay in circulation, so also ask companies that hold your details to erase them.
Want this done for you? Ceaselist sends erasure requests to 668 data brokers as your authorised agent, chases the legal deadlines and prepares an ICO complaint when a broker ignores the law. £29 a year or £3.99 a month, full refund within 30 days.
Start with Ceaselist Free do-it-yourself packThis guide is general information, not legal advice. Prices and processes for other services were taken from their public websites and reviews in October 2026 and can change; check before you buy. Ceaselist is our own service, so we have an interest: we have tried to be fair, including about where we fall short.