Electoral Register

Annual Canvass

The annual electoral registration canvass commences at the end of August, and householders are encouraged to send their registration forms back, and as quickly as possible.

Why register?

• To be able to participate in elections and therefore influence who makes the decisions that affect you on a daily basis
• You may find it harder to obtain credit, mortgages, loans, etc. as the electoral register is one of the documents used by the financial services industry when authorising applications
• You may be fined up to £1,000 if you fail to respond or up to £5,000 if you provide false information
• Returning the form quickly saves the council - and your - money as there is then no need to pay canvassers to call at your house

Who is entitled to register?

All residents who are aged 16 or over and are British, Irish, Commonwealth or European Union citizens are entitled to register at the address where they are or will be generally resident on 15 October of the relevant year.

However, it is important to note that non-eligible householders must also complete and return their canvass forms so that their non-eligibility can be recorded on the system.