| Your questions answered |
What is the Electoral Canvass?
Why does it happen every year?
When will I receive the form?
What do I do when I receive it?
Why do I have to do this?
Who can register to vote?
|
| What is the Electoral Canvass? |
By law, every year the council must send out to each property in the borough a Register of Electors form, requesting updated information of its residents. Residents must by law complete this form and send it back to the council. Failure to do so can lead to a fine of up to £1,000.
From all information received an updated Electoral Register is published on 1 December each year.
The Electoral Register (also known as the Electoral Roll and the Register of Electors) is a list compiled by the council of people eligible to vote in elections in the borough.
|
| Why does it happen every year? |
This is mainly connected with the high mobility of residents in the UK, but also with changing circumstances in households or the personal lives of its residents. For instance, if you move and forget to register at your new address, you will be able to remain registered to vote as long as you return the annual Canvass form. The same applies if you change your name.
Electoral Canvass is about keeping your details as accurately as possible on the Electoral Register.
|
| When will I receive the form? |
The forms will be posted out to each property, using Royal Mail, during the first week of August. If by the third week of August you still have not received your white and yellow form, please contact us on 0208 937 1372.
|
| What do I do when I receive it? |
You should complete and return the form in the pre-paid envelope provided as soon as possible.
If there are no changes to the information held by us, you can also register by phone or the Internet.
Full instructions on how to fill in the form, or use the phone or internet registration systems, are provided with it. If however you have any difficulties, please contact us on 0208 937 1372.
You can also follow our step-by-step guidance on-line here.
|
| Why do I have to do this? |
It is the law and you can be fined up to £1,000
By law, you must complete your Canvass form, sign it, date it and return it to the council. Failure to do so can lead to a fine of up to £1,000.
You can lose your right to vote
Failure to return the form can prevent you from appearing on the revised Electoral Register published on 1 December and with that you may lose your right to vote in an upcoming election or referendum.
In May 2008 there will be elections for the Greater London Authority.
Difficulty in obtaining credit
You may also have difficulty in obtaining credit or opening a bank or building society account. Lenders now routinely check the Register as a way of confirming an applicant’s details.
It will cost extra money to the council if you do not
You should try to send back the completed form as soon as possible. If you leave it for too long we will have to send you a reminder which will ultimately mean extra spending for the council. The same applies if we have to send a Canvasser to visit your property during the months of October and November. Every year it costs the council over £100,000 to send reminder letters and canvassers to households that have failed to respond to us as soon as they receive their form in early August.
|
| Who can register to vote? |
Age
A person must be 18 years old in order to vote. However, everyone over 17 years old must register. This is to make sure that as soon as a person comes of age he or she is able to cast their vote if an election is called.
Residence
People can register only for the address where they are resident. In the form you should include:
- People who are temporarily away - for example, away working, on holiday, in student accommodation or in hospital;
- Any other residents, lodgers or guests (but not short term visitors) at your address.
Nationality
People who are entitled to register to vote:
- British citizens
- Citizens of the Republic of Ireland
- Citizens of a Commonwealth country or British Overseas Territory (see full list of countries here)
- Citizens of an European Union Member State (see full list of countries here)
|