Each year, we are legally required to carry out an annual canvass to make sure the electoral register is up to date.
The canvass allows us to update information about who lives at each address, including any 16 or 17-year-olds. This information is used to invite unregistered residents to register to vote, and to remove the names of those who no longer live at the address.
The annual canvass process has changed. You may receive canvass communications in a different way than in previous years.
The canvass will run from August until the end of November 2026. Any changes made to the electoral register during the household canvass will take effect when the revised Register of Electors is published on 1 December 2026.
How the new canvass process works
The electoral register is sent securely to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to be matched with their records.
There are 2 possible routes:
- Route 1 – if all the residents registered to vote at the property can be matched
- Route 2 – if there are residents at the property who cannot be matched
The results of the data matching will determine how you are contacted.
Route 1 – Matched properties
Email address
If we hold an email address for an individual in the household, we will send an email to confirm that the details we hold for the property are correct. The email will be sent from elections@enfield.gov.uk.
If you receive an email, please complete the following steps:
- Visit the Household Update Service
- Log in using the security codes provided in your canvass email
- Confirm that the details we hold for the occupants of the property are correct, or make any required changes
No email address
If we do not hold an email address for any individual in the household, we will send a paper canvass form to your household to ensure we get a response. This form will be posted by Royal Mail from 6 October 2026.
If you receive a form but do not have any changes to make, there is no need to reply.
However, if you need to make any changes, please complete the following steps by 28 November 2026:
- Visit the Household Update Service
- Log in using the security codes provided on your paper canvass form
- Confirm that the details we hold for the occupants of the property are correct, or make any required changes
If you do not wish to respond online, you can post the form to:
Electoral Services
Enfield Civic Centre
Silver Street
EN1 3ES
Example of a paper canvass form. This will be addressed to ‘The Occupier’.
Route 2 – Partial or no match properties
We will send a canvass form to the property that will either:
- be blank if nobody is registered at the property
- contain details of anyone we have listed as registered at the property
Even if there are no changes, you must respond to this form if you receive one.
To respond, please complete the following steps:
- Visit the Household Update Service
- Log in using the security codes provided
- Confirm that the details we hold for the occupants of the property are correct, or make any required changes
If you do not wish to respond online, you can post the form to Electoral Services, Enfield Civic Centre, Silver Street, EN1 3ES using the prepaid envelope supplied.
If there are no changes to make, you can also respond by:
- telephone
- SMS (text)
Details are provided on your canvass form.
If we do not receive a response to the form, we will make further attempts to get a response from you. This may include sending reminder forms or contacting you by telephone.
Example of a paper canvass form below. This will be addressed to ‘The Occupier’. You must respond, even if there are no changes.
This form will be delivered by Royal Mail between 4 August and 21 September 2026. It is important that you respond by the deadline stated on the form to ensure that you do not receive a reminder.
We encourage you to provide an email address or telephone number. This gives us an easy way to contact you if we have any queries about your response.
The quickest and easiest way to confirm your details or tell us about any changes is online. The website address and your unique security code will be provided in the cover letter you receive. Once you have logged in, you can confirm that the information is correct or make any necessary changes.
If you do not respond by the deadline stated in the letter or email, we may contact you by telephone or send reminder notices by post. To avoid receiving reminders, please respond as soon as possible.
How to respond
If there are changes, you can respond:
online
by post
If there are no changes, you can respond:
by telephone
by SMS
Important information if you are currently a postal voter
If you applied for a postal vote before 1 February 2024, you may need to reapply by 31 January 2027 to continue voting by post. You should have already been written to if this applies to you. For more information about postal voting, see our Voting by post page.
For more information about how to register to vote, see our registering to vote page.