Do you still need to respond to the annual canvass?

During July and August, Buckinghamshire Council’s Electoral Services team sent either a letter or an email to all households in Buckinghamshire as part of the annual canvass. This communication asked residents to check that their electoral registration details are correct to make sure they retain their right to vote and have their say in future elections.

Households that have been asked to confirm or update their details but haven’t yet done this are urged to do so as soon as possible and online where possible. The letter or email will say if you need to respond or not according to your circumstance. Residents not on the electoral register won’t be able to vote in elections and this may also impact their ability to obtain credit.

People who have moved recently are especially encouraged to take part in the canvass and check who is registered to vote at their new address; also if someone in the household has now turned 16 or 17 years old.

Households that haven’t responded, and are required to do so, will be visited by one of Buckinghamshire Council’s door-to-door canvassers who will begin doing their rounds on Friday 22 September.

Canvassers will be carrying clear identification with them and will check the details held on the electoral register are correct or record any changes, if necessary. Please follow the instructions on your canvass form or email to avoid a canvasser visiting your household.

For more information, please contact the council’s Electoral Registration team by telephoning 01296 798 141 or by emailing [email protected]

Nick Graham, Buckinghamshire Council’s Returning Officer and Director of Legal & Democratic Services, said:

“I’d like to thank everyone who has already responded to the annual canvass, if they were required to do so. However, we are still waiting for responses from around 32,000 households. Reminders are being sent to these households to respond. It’s really quick and easy to do this – simply follow the instructions on the email or letter as soon as possible to avoid a visit from one of our canvassers.

“If possible, please respond to the canvass online, as your information will then be processed instantly. It also means there’s no chance of your form being lost in the post, plus it’s more environmentally friendly. Last year, £18k worth of postage/printing costs were saved due to electors responding digitally.

“It’s hugely important that residents are on the electoral register so that they can have their say and vote in future elections. The register is also used for credit referencing purposes to counteract fraud. If you’re not registered you might be refused credit, have problems opening a bank account, getting a mortgage, or taking out a mobile phone contract.”

Further information on the annual canvass can be found on the Election pages of the council’s website at: www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/confirm-voting-details