Being on the electoral roll helps credit reference agencies confirm who you are and where you live. It’s one of the easiest ways to strengthen your credit profile, as it shows stability and helps lenders trust that your details are genuine.
When updates happen
Most councils share an updated version of their electoral roll once a year, usually between December and late February. This is when the new year’s register (for example, 2025 → 2026) is shared with credit reference agencies.
When this happens, your old record is replaced by the new one.
Sometimes this can appear as your electoral roll being “removed” and “added” again, but that’s normal — it’s simply part of the annual refresh.
How long it takes to show
How quickly your registration appears depends on when you register in relation to your council’s update cycle:
• If you register just before your council sends its next update, your record might appear within a few weeks.
• If you register just after, it might not appear until the next update, which could take a few months.
Common reasons your electoral roll might not show
Even if you’ve registered correctly, your record might not appear right away if:
• The address format on your ClearScore account doesn’t exactly match your council’s record (for example, “Flat 1, 10 High Street” vs “10A High Street”)
• The name on your ClearScore account is slightly different (for example, if you’ve changed your name, there’s a typo, or you used a shortened name)
• Your council hasn’t yet shared its latest data with Equifax, or it’s still being processed
How to fix it
If your electoral roll still isn’t showing after some time:
1. Check that your name and address in ClearScore match exactly what’s on your registration.
2. If everything looks correct, contact us through the ClearScore chat.
We may ask for proof of your electoral roll registration (we just need to see your name and address), and can share this with Equifax to review and update your report.
Why being on the electoral roll helps
Being on the electoral roll doesn’t directly affect your score, but it can make a big difference to how easily lenders verify your identity. It shows consistency and stability - two key indicators lenders look for when deciding whether to offer credit.