How to register to vote

Your name must be on the Electoral Register before you can vote in local and national elections and referendums.

The annual household canvass to update the register of electors is changing this year. Look out for your canvass communication which we will send around mid August.

How it works

Canvass reform means that we will data match all individuals within households with the Department for Work and Pensions Customer Information System (DWP CIS) in mid-June - based on test data undertaken earlier this year we expect approx. 70% of households to match.

• matched households - You will receive a letter outlining the details of people registered at that property if all the details on the letter are correct you DO NOT need to respond. If they have changed you should let us know using the online service or by calling the Helpline number to make the changes.
• unmatched households - For the 20% of households in the Borough that we do not get a full match for will receive a letter outlining the details of people registered at that property. The letter will ask you to use the online service or call the Helpline number to make any changes. You do NOT need to send the letter back to us. Please respond as soon as possible as this will avoid us having to contact you again. 

If you do not reply

We are required to chase up non-responders so households may get a phone call or email from our team at Electoral Services or failing that a door knock from one of our personal canvassers.

The personal canvassers carry ID and will not enter your house they will have a Tablet with an online form with your address and who was registered last year - this does require a response.

It is important that if there are any changes you tell us so that we can make sure you are able to vote in any elections. Not being registered may also affect your credit score.

What happens next

Anyone who is added to a property will still need to register to vote. We will send them an 'Invitation to Register Form' to anyone who has been added so that they can register to vote either by filling in the paper form or by registering online

Register to vote - GOV.UK

Remember by completing the canvass form or making changes via the online service or calling the Helpline you are not registered only confirming the names of the people at the property.