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Woking Borough Council residents are being urged to check their electoral registration details or risk losing their chance to vote on decisions that affect them.
The annual canvass allows the Council to keep the electoral register up-to-date, to identify who risks losing their voice at elections, and to encourage them to register before it’s too late.
Julie Fisher, Electoral Registration Officer at Woking Borough Council, said: “Please keep an eye out for important updates from the Council. 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 upcoming elections, simply follow the instructions sent to you.
“I urge you to reply as soon as possible. By doing so, it will help us to be more efficient and keep our costs to a minimum. For example, it will help reduce the need to send reminder communications and for our canvassers to visit properties which have not responded.
“If you’re not currently registered to vote, 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.”
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. In Great Britain, 92% of those who have lived in their home for 16 years will be registered, compared with 36% of people who have lived at an address for less than a year.
Melanie Davidson, Head of Support and Improvement at the Electoral Commission, said: “It’s really important that everyone who is eligible to vote is able to do so. We urge people to check for updates from Woking Borough Council about this year’s canvass. The Council may contact residents by post or email.”
Read more about the annual canvass and how to register to vote
Residents with questions about their registration status can contact the Council’s electoral services team at elections@woking.gov.uk or phoning 01483 755 855.