Residents Urged to Check Voter Registration Details

THE next phase of a drive to get as many residents as possible in Reading to sign up to the electoral register begins this week as canvass forms are sent to households who have not yet responded.

The Council’s annual canvass ensures the electoral register is up to date, identifies any residents who are not registered and encourages them to do so. 

Households in Reading with 16- or 17-year-olds are particularly being asked to look out for canvass forms and reminded they can add the name of teenagers to the register as they will be entitled to vote when they turn 18.

The distribution of canvass forms across Reading is the third phase of Reading Council’s drive to ensure as many residents as possible are on the electoral register.

Michael Graham, Electoral Registration Officer at Reading Borough Council, said:

“Please keep an eye out for important updates from Reading Council over the coming days.  The annual canvass is our way of making sure that the information on the electoral register for every address is accurate and up to date. To make sure you don’t lose your say at future elections, just follow the instructions in the canvass forms.

“Remember, the forms being sent out this week are only going to households where we have not been able to match details with the DWP, and to households who have not yet responded to the canvass letters sent out in at the end of July.  People must respond to this latest letter by 25^th September 2024. 

“The quickest and easiest way to reply is online by following the simple instructions in the letter. Alternatively, please check the details on the form and update the information if necessary, returning the form in the pre-paid envelope provided.

“Where no response is received, the Council is then obliged to follow up with households again, which could include door to door canvassers visiting or telephoning the address. It costs the Council money to do this, so it’s important the form is returned as quickly as possible, ideally online which is by far the quickest route.”

In addition to responding to the annual canvass form, residents not currently registered can do so online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

Recent home movers in particular are urged to check their details. Electoral Commission research has found that recent home movers are less likely to be registered than those who have lived at the same address for a long time. 

Information on registering to vote is available on the Electoral Commission website.

Residents with questions about their registration status can contact their local council’s electoral services team at Elections@reading.gov.uk or telephone: 0118 937 3717.