Annual Canvass 2026

The 2026 annual electoral register canvass has begun.

The first canvass communication will be emailed on Tuesday 16 June to all residents who we hold an email address for. All remaining properties will receive their first canvass communication from Friday 17 July 2026.

The email should not be confused for a scam - all emails will be sent from elections.stroud.district.council@notifications.service.gov.uk with a subject line of 'Your Elector registration details - Stroud District Council'

Annual electoral register canvass

We are required by law to keep the register of eligible voters up to date. Each year we contact every household to find out if the details on the electoral register are correct. This is known as the ‘annual canvass’. Being registered gives you the right to vote at elections and could also improve your credit rating or help you if you need to apply for credit.

We sent an email communication on Tuesday 16 June to all electors who we held an email address for asking households to respond by Sunday 5 July using one of the below methods to prevent a paper form to be issued. Properties where we did not receive a response to the email will now receive a paper canvass form from Friday 17 July. Please carefully read the form to know if you are required to respond and if so, the deadline to do so. 

If you have received a letter/email communication about everyone living at your address who is currently registered to vote, please confirm whether the details are correct or tell us about any changes by following the steps outlined in the letter/email.  To provide reassurance to you that our contact is not a scam: –

• If you receive an email, it will come from the email address elections.stroud.district.council@notifications.service.gov.uk  with the subject line of ‘Your Elector registration details - Stroud District Council’.
• If we write to you, our letters will carry the Council’s logo and address details, and include the heading ‘You must respond so we can check who is eligible to register to vote’.
• If we need to visit, our canvasser will carry identification. You can check their identification by calling Electoral Services.  Canvassers will not need to come into your home.

How can I respond?

It is important that you respond when asked to confirm or update your details to avoid reminders having to be sent or someone needing to visit you to get this information. Please carefully read any email or posted correspondence from Electoral Services carefully and respond accordingly to avoid further reminders. 

There is an online automated response service, available 24/7, June to November, which is quick and easy to use.  We have appointed Civica Election Services to run this service on our behalf, and you can access it using the following link: –

• https://www.householdresponse.com/stroud 
• You are also able to respond by calling the office on 01453 766321, email elections@stroud.gov.uk or post any correspondence back to us at Electoral Services, Stroud District Council, Ebley Mill, Ebley Wharf, Stroud, GL5 4UB.

Moved address?

If you are no longer resident at the address you have received correspondence for you can use the online response option to notify us that you have moved out of that property. When responding via the online system you will need the security codes which will have been included in your email or letter.

What happens next?

Any new residents who are eligible to register will also need to make an individual registration application to complete the second stage of the process., simply adding them to the household response does not register them fully. Applications can be made:

• Online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote or,
• by using the information you provide, we will send separate paper individual registration forms to those residents.

When making your individual registration application you will need to provide your date of birth and National Insurance Number.