A method to access a control system for a gate or a door, wherein the control system includes a fingerprint sensor, a scanner for capturing a fingerprint as a user identifier for a user, a sensor element for activating the scanner and a computer unit, which stores a number of user identifiers. A fingerprint captured using the scanner is compared, as a currently input user identifier, with the user identifiers which are stored in the computer unit. If there is a match between the currently input user identifier and a stored user identifier, the fingerprint sensor outputs a control signal to a control unit, as a result of which the latter operates the gate or the door. Signals generated in the scanner are used to selectively call individual memory locations in the computer unit in order to erase or store individual user identifiers therein.