Charnwood Borough Council - Leading in Leicestershire

RESIDENTS are being encouraged to make sure they don’t lose their right to vote – as Charnwood Borough Council begins the process of updating the electoral register.

Around 66,000 forms will be sent to homes across the Borough at the end of this month and it’s vital they are returned so people can vote in next year’s County Council and European elections.

The Council is required by law to carry out an annual canvass to compile the Register of Electors and it is warning residents that a delay in returning them is an expensive process.

David Dalby, Charnwood Borough Council’s Head of Democratic Services, said: “It costs a lot of money to chase up forms that are not returned to us.

“We would ask everyone to return their form quickly in order to reduce our costs and minimise the effect on the Council Tax.”

Residents who are not on the register may also find it difficult to obtain credit as it is used by credit reference agencies to verify the address of applicants.

There are three different ways for people to return or update their forms – either by phone, post or online.

If the pre-printed details on the form are correct, residents can call a freephone number or log on to the internet to confirm this.

However, the form does need to be returned by post if there are any changes to the information on it.

The secure telephone registration is available in different languages including Hindu, Gujarati and Urdu and full details of how to confirm or update details are on the back of the form.

If you do not have a canvass form, or want to find out further details about electoral registration, please contact Charnwood Borough Council’s Electoral Services Section on (01509) 634613 or (01509) 634612.

Alternatively, log on to www.charnwood.gov.ukpages/electoralservices or email elections@charnwood.gov.uk