Civil Registry Does Not Close
The periodic list and the continuous voter list typically have a closing date, for both the preliminary
voters list and the final or definitive voters list. In contrast, the civil registry never closes. The civil
registry is simply too important to the administration of government services to allow closure.
There can be a cut-off point for changing information in the civil registry, to take effect before an
election. For example, there can be a cut-off date for changes to one's primary residence. If the
cut-off date is missed, an individual can be entitled to vote only in the constituency or voting
division where he or she resided on the cut-off date for changes to the registry. Individuals not
listed on the register at the time of cut-off can be excluded from voting. But because registration is
generally mandatory for civil registers, this latter scenario is not a common occurrence.
