Don’t lose your voice – we’re contacting residents to ensure they can vote
Published: Wednesday, 19 August, 2020
Stroud District residents are being urged to ensure their electoral registration details are up to date.
With local elections and the Police and Crime Commissioner for Gloucestershire election taking place in May 2021, this is an important opportunity for residents to make sure they can take part.
The annual canvass ensures that Stroud District Council can keep the electoral register up to date, identifying any residents who are not registered so that they can be encouraged to do so. They would then be able to take part in any future elections.
The way the council conducts the annual canvass has changed this year, and most residents, whose information remains the same, will simply receive a letter confirming their details and stating that no further action is required.
Residents who have recently moved, are not registered or whose information is incomplete may be contacted usually by letter or email. They are urged to respond, to ensure they are correctly added to the Register of Electors.
Stroud District Council Electoral Registration Officer Kathy O’Leary said:
“It’s important that residents keep an eye out for messages from Stroud District Council, so we can make sure we have the right details on the electoral register for every address in the Stroud District.
“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.
“This year’s canvass, which we have to carry out by law, is taking place during a challenging public health situation. We are working to ensure that we take account of public health guidelines, including the continued importance of social distancing.”
People who have moved recently are particularly encouraged to look out for the voter registration messages from Stroud District Council and check the details.
Research by the Electoral Commission indicates that recent home movers are far less likely to be registered than those who have lived at the same address for a long time. Across Great Britain, 92% of people who have been at their property for more than sixteen years will be registered, compared to 36% of people who have lived at an address for less than one year.
For more information on the annual canvass you can visit www.stroud.gov.uk/elections or if you have any questions you can email elections@stroud.gov.uk