Accessing Electoral and Voter Records for OSINT

Why Electoral Data Matters

One of the first questions in many investigations is simple: Where does this person live? The answer can support numerous investigative opportunities, such as making an arrest, conducting surveillance, determining assets, and identifying associates.

Voter and electoral records in the UK and US are linked to an address, which is why they are among the most valuable data sources available to investigators looking to identify an address linked to a subject.

However, the availability, accessibility, and content of electoral data varies depending on the individual and the country they live in. Practitioners conducting investigations in the United Kingdom and United States will quickly discover that coverage in each country is dependent upon the individual.

Electoral Data in the United Kingdom

The UK maintains electoral registers to support the administration of elections. Citizens must register themselves to vote at 18.

While voting is optional, the law requires all eligible residents to register when requested. This is because outside of elections, things unconnected with elections depend upon the electoral register. Credit reference agencies are entitled to receive the electoral register as they use the information as verification of an individual’s address. Not being registered to vote can have an impact on your credit score and impact getting a mortgage. 

Information Commonly Found

Depending on the version of the register and the source being used, investigators may encounter:

• Full name
• Residential address
• Other registered residents at the same address

This makes electoral data particularly valuable for:

• Subject location
• Skip tracing
• Identifying associates
• Identity verification
• Building subject profiles