Annual Canvass

The council updates the electoral register every year and in order to do this, we send voter registration forms to every household in the borough between August and September. 

The form will list all the people who are currently on the electoral register for your address.  You are asked to simply add anyone who is living at your address on 15 October and cross out anyone who has moved out.  The form needs to be signed and returned to the council by the stated deadline, usually mid-November.

If you don't complete the form you will not be able to exercise your democratic right to vote in an election and it is much harder to obtain credit if you are not registered.  You are actually required by law to complete the form.

Remember:

• You should respond to the annual canvass even if there are no changes to the information printed on your form, or if you have only recently been added to the register.
• It is helpful if you register any 16 and 17 years olds living with you (and include their date of birth) as this will make it easier when they are eligible to vote at 18 years old. 

When you send us your completed, signed form, we will add you to our list of new applications.  Any elector can then object to your name being added to the register – if this happens we will write to you.  If your application is not objected to, we will change your details within seven weeks of receiving your form.

Changes can be made to the register until mid-November for the new register to be published on 1 December.

Registering is easy!

Telephone registration

You can register by telephone if the following applies to you:

• You have received the correct canvass form. 
• The information on the register is correct but you want to change which register one or all members of the household appear on. i.e. remove your name(s) from the edited version of the register.

Internet registration

You can make certain changes to the printed details on your form when registering online  provided you have previously registered at your address.  You can also apply for a postal vote for anyone printed on your form when registering online. 

Text registration

If all of the details on your form are correct, then you can text your two part security code, speartated by a space, to 07797 898745 (24 hours, standard network rate applies).

If you have any queries please contact the Electoral Service Team on T: 020 8207 7481 or email electoral.registration@hertsmere.gov.uk