Annual Voter Registration Campaign

The annual registration campaign takes place from mid-August to November each year.

The voters’ register is updated each year during this annual canvass period and published on 1 December.

In early August each year, the electoral services team of canvassers hand-deliver the annual electoral registration form to each of the 97,000 households in the borough. This will be followed up with 2 sets of reminder forms being delivered and posted from late August to late September to all properties who do not reply. Finally electoral canvassers will call personally several times upon properties who have still not responded by October. A final reminder will be delivered in early November.

Every household (whatever the occupier's nationality or status) has to reply each year, but it is each elector's choice if they wish to vote or not at the time of an election.

Every household must complete and sign the form stating:

a) the names of all eligible electors resident, or

b) if no one is eligible to be registered, state the reason why (e.g. empty property, registered elsewhere or all residents are foreign nationals from a country or countries who are not members of either the European Union or Commonwealth)

View the Eligible Nationalities link on the left for information on who is eligible to be registered as a voter.

You must be included on the registration form if you are:

• aged 18 and over
• 16 or 17 years old (so that you are eligible to vote as soon as you turn 18)
• British, Irish, Commonwealth or European Union citizens
• living at an address in this borough

Council Taxpayer

It is important to note that being on the council tax register does not automatically mean that you are on the voters’ register. The two registers contain different information.

Tenant or Lodger

You must include anyone who is eligible to be a voter living at the address, even if they are tenant or lodgers.

Credit Checks and the Voters' Register

The voters’ register 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 telephone. If you are not registered, you will probably be refused credit as well as losing your right to a vote.

Penalty for Not Replying or for Giving False Information

It is important to note that if you do not respond to the annual canvass form, or give false information, you may face a fine of up to £1000. You can help the council to minimise its costs by responding to the registration form as soon as possible.

Registering or Changing Your Details After 1 December

Please refer to the Rolling Register part of this section of the website - click link on the left.