Don’t lose your voice – residents urged to check their voter registration details

The annual canvass by South Lakeland District Council (SLDC) to ensure the electoral register is up to date is about to start.

Residents will receive an email or letter in the next few weeks listing the names of everyone the council has registered to vote at the property. Around 80 per cent of households will only need to respond if the information needs to be updated.

The council is legally required to ensure the electoral register is up to date, identifying any residents who are not registered to vote so they can be encouraged to do so. This involves checking every year to find out if anyone who is eligible to register to vote has, for example:

·        moved in or out of a property

·        turned 16 and is therefore old enough to register to vote

·        or needs to change any other information, such as someone would like to vote by post from now on.

Simon McVey, the council’s Electoral Registration Officer, said: “It’s important that residents look out for messages from SLDC so we can make sure we have the right details on the electoral register for every address in South Lakeland.

“People who have moved recently are particularly encouraged to check their details because research by the Electoral Commission indicates that recent home movers are far less likely to be registered to vote than those who have lived at the same address for a long time.

“If you need to respond, the quickest and easiest way to do this is online, using the link and security numbers given in your email or letter.

“If you don’t use the internet you can respond by telephone. Your email or letter will tell you how to respond by text message, automated telephone or by calling our office.

“If you’re not currently registered, your name will not appear in the messages we send. If you want to register, the easiest way is online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote, or we’ll send you information explaining how to do this in the post.”

SLDC will use the information from this year’s canvass to publish the Register of Electors on 1 December 2022.

You can find out more about the annual canvass, electoral registration and voting at: www.southlakeland.gov.uk/voting-and-elections