Electoral Roll

This page is maintained by Amanda Shreeve

New Electoral Roll required for every parish in 2025

In 2025, an entirely new church electoral roll must be prepared in advance of the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) in every parish in the Church of England, under the Church Representation Rules (CRR).

So, even if someone has had their name entered on the existing electoral roll, they must complete a fresh application form to be included on the new one.

The PCC must take reasonable steps to inform all those whose names are entered on the existing roll that a new roll is being prepared, and that they must make a fresh application if they wish their name to appear on the new roll.

In brief:

Preparation of a new roll must be done every six years (last completed 2019)
Notice displayed near the main door of every church in every parish, at least two months before the APCM
Notice must stay up for at least 14 days
Announcements made in church during the 14 days that the notice is up to say that the roll is being prepared
PCC must ensure that reasonable efforts are made to let everyone on the old roll know that a new Roll is being prepared
Exception is anyone no longer qualified to be on the roll (e.g. someone who no longer worships regularly in the parish and lives outside the parish)
Members of the previous roll need to fill in applications (no one is automatically included)
New people may also apply by filling in an application for enrolment
New roll must be complete on a fixed date between 15 and 28 days before the APCM
Completed new roll is posted near the main church door at least 14 days before the APCM. During this time corrections may be made (e.g. correcting a misspelling) but no new names added or removed.

The full guidance on preparing the new Electoral Roll can be downloaded here: PDF | Word