Electoral Roll

Who, What, Why?

What is the Electoral Roll?
The electoral roll is our Parish register of electors. This means that anyone who is on the electoral roll for St Mary’s can vote in our Annual Church Meeting and stand for election to the PCC.

Do I Qualify to Join the Roll?
To apply for the Electoral Roll you must meet ALL the following conditions:
  • You must be aged 16 or over (though you can apply in the year you become 16 and your name will be entered once your birth date has passed)
  • You must be baptised
  • You must be a member of the Church of England* and EITHER live in the parish OR have attended a church in the parish regularly for at least 6 months.
Why is the Electoral Roll Important?
Signing up to the roll is not compulsory and it doesn’t come with any extra commitments however, it is good for St Mary’s to Having accurate numbers of our congregation on the electoral roll ensures we have the right number of people in important roles. For example, it ensures we have the right number of PCC for the size of the church, and can give us greater representation on a wider CofE level at Deanery Synod where St Mary’s views can be shared and church wide matters are voted on.

You will need to join the roll if you wish to:
  • Stand for election to the PCC
  • Attend and vote in the Annual Church Meeting
Notes
* Member of the Church of England OR
  • Member of a Church in communion with the Church of England. The only Churches at present in communion with the Church of England are other Anglican Churches and some other foreign churches.
  • Member of a Church not in communion with the Church of England but which subscribes to the doctrine of the Holy Trinity; you must be prepared to also declare yourself a member of the Church of England.
If you are a parish resident you do not have to actually attend the Church of which you consider yourself a member; but if you live outside the parish, the 6 months’ regular attendance at a church inside the parish is a requirement. If you know your postcode you can find out if you are resident in the parish by using this online tool.
You can be on the Electoral Roll of more than one Church, but you can only serve on the PCC of one Church at a time.
In these notes, ‘parish’ means ecclesiastical parish.