Annual Canvass
Summary
Each year between August and November, Charnwood Borough Council is required to undertake an Annual Canvass of all households in the Borough to ensure we hold the correct details in our Electoral Register.
In August an annual registration form will be sent to every household in the Borough listing all the people we currently have on the register. You must by law return the form each year, whether you choose to use your vote or not it’s your choice.
The Register of Electors is often used to confirm an individual’s address, especially if they are applying for credit such as a mortgage, personal loan or even a mobile phone. If you are not registered you will probably be refused credit as well as losing your right to have your say via the ballot box.
You need to be included on the registration form if you are:
- 18 and over
- British, Irish, European or qualifying Commonwealth citizen
- 16 and 17 years olds if they will be 18 by 30th November 2012
- Living at an address within Charnwood Borough
Don’t assume that because you were registered last year that your name will be automatically included in this year’s Register of Electors. Also, being on the Council Tax Register does not automatically mean that you are on the Register of Electors as the two registers contain different information.
If you do not receive a registration form or you require help, please speak to a member of staff by contacting the Electoral Services Office on 01509 632593/4/5 or email your request to electoral.services@charnwood.gov.uk
Please also refer to the additional information available at the bottom of this page for frequently asked questions and a list of qualifying countries.
How to fill in the annual canvass form
If there are NO changes to the form
If all the details on the form are correct, other than to add or remove existing members of the household from the edited register, you can either:
Use the Freephone service at 0800 197 9885 to confirm there are no changes to the existing details.
Use our secure Internet service to confirm there are no changes to the details, the address is www.registerbyinternet.com/charnwood. The service is easy and safe to use, you will also be asked if you wish to vote by post (a tick in the postal voting box means that you already have a postal vote and do not need to reapply).
Alternatively, if there are no changes to be made in any column you can simply text your security code to 80212, a confirmation message will be sent to your mobile phone if your update has been successful.
To use any of the above services you will need to have your two part security code to hand (printed on the right hand side of your registration form). For more information on how to use the above services please see the reverse of your registration form.
If there ARE changes to the form
If there are changes to the form, other than to add or remove existing members of the household from the edited register, you cannot use the Internet , Freephone or SMS service, you must show any changes on the form and then return it to us by post. If people have moved simply cross out their names and write in the names of the current qualifying residents, sign the form and return to us. If the property is empty simply tick the appropriate box to tell us why the property is empty, sign the from and return to us.
Please be aware: If you are returning the registration form by post and DO NOT wish to appear on the edited register you MUST put a cross in the box on the form with the heading edited register.
Related Documents (2)
Annual Canvass - Qualifying Countries (PDF Document, 0.1 Mb)- Annual Canvass Faqs (PDF Document, 0.1 Mb)
Frequently Asked Questions (8)
Wait until you are sure where you will be on 15th October, if you will still be at this address complete and return the form or use the freephone, internet or text services. If you will have moved by 15th October then delete your own details and leave the form for the new occupants and remember to complete a form at your new address.
If you have recently registered there may have been an overlap between your information being processed and the form printed, if it has been a while since you registered then contact the office and we will check our records.
The edited register is separate from the voting register but is compiled from the details supplied on the registration form. It is available for general sale and can be used for any purpose. The edited register can be bought by any person, company or commercial organisation and can be used for commercial activities such as marketing. If you do not want your details used in this way put a tick in the box against your name. Even if you have chosen not to appear on the edited register in previous years, you still need to make sure that you indicate in Box 8 if you do not wish to appear on the next revised edited register. You must also ask each person named on the form if they want to opt out of the edited register.
NO - if you need to make any changes to the details you must amend the form, sign it and return the form in the freepost envelope provided.
If they will be 18 by no later than 30 November 2012 they should be included on the form, they may then vote as soon as they reach 18.
Students may register at both home and a college address but may only vote once at the same election. As students tend to move often it is probably safer to include their name on the register for their home address.
No - the form is meant for your household, cross out any incorrect names on the form and add the names of all household members who are eligible on the blank lines.
Yes you can, all 3 services are easy to use, have your registration form with you when using any of these services as you will need to enter the two part security code as part of the process, but remember not to post back your registration form as well.
Last updated: Tue 13th September, 2011 @ 14:57
