Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about a change to his address on the electoral register because there is not enough evidence of fault to warrant an investigation.

The complaint

1. Mr X says the Council removed the name of the county from his address on the electoral register. He wants it reinstated.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. We investigate complaints about ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’, which we call ‘fault’. We must also consider whether any fault has had an adverse impact on the person making the complaint, which we call ‘injustice’. We provide a free service, but must use public money carefully. We do not start or continue an investigation if we decide there is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating.(Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))

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How I considered this complaint

3. I considered information provided by Mr X and the Council.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. Mr X says the Council has removed the county from his address on the electoral register. He says in 1999 the Council and Royal Mail agreed to include the name of the County in the electoral register address.
6. Mr X complained to the Council in September 2025. The Council explained that Royal Mail and Ordnance Survey no longer include the county in their address records. It republished the electoral register using the same format.
7. I recognise Mr X disagrees with the Council’s decision to remove the county from his address on the electoral register. The Council has explained its reasoning. There is not enough evidence of fault to warrant an investigation.

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Final decision

8. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because there is not enough evidence of fault to warrant further investigation.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman