Genealogy Chat

Tyne This is actually on the Getting Started section on the homepage of this website: "Electoral registers began in 1832 and by 1884 all male householders over the age of 21 were entitled to vote. By 1918 all men over 21 and women over the age of 30 could vote, changing to the age of 21 for women in 1928. In 1969 the age was lowered from 21 to 18. They are usually kept by local libraries and county record offices and are an excellent way of trying to trace down towards the present. " You don't say which bit of North London, so I don't know which location you would find them in - possibly the London Metropolitan Archives, or a local London borough archive. The British Library in St Pancras has all electoral registers for England, but they are off-site so you have to order them a few days in advance of your visit. nell

It does all depend on the staff and where the records are held. I needed a lookup for a 1960s electoral roll in Devon, and it was held at one of the LDS centres. The lady who answered the phone actually looked it up while I waited! However, I also contacted Surrey County Council and Hampshire County Council who held 1960s electoral rolls - Surrey charged me £11 which was their minimum search fee, but Hampshire waived the fee because the area was right on the border and they had to look at the maps anyway. Good luck! Mandy :)

I am trying to search for an electoral roll record for a family in north London in the 1950s - please can anyone tell me if the staff in the offices where they are held will do searches? Also, how often were they produced, was it every year? Thanks for any info. Tyne