Annual Electoral Canvass

 

Q       I am not interested in voting why should I register or return this form?

 

A      You are legally required to make a return and register if you are eligible.  Whether you vote or not is your decision when an election takes place.  Not being on the electoral register can affect your credit rating and make it difficult to obtain credit e.g. mortgage, loan etc as Credit Reference Agencies use the electoral registers to establish existence of persons.

 

Q       My partner is Russian do I need to add him/her to the form?

 

A      No, as they are not from a qualifying country.  You must be British, Irish, other Commonwealth e.g. Indian, Canadian etc or qualifying EU country e.g. France, Spain.  See reverse of form for list of EU countries. 

 

If you have dual nationality you can be included.  Likewise if they have taken British nationality – you will have a naturalisation certificate to this effect.

       

Q       My son/daughter is at University should I include her on the form?

 

A      Yes if this is still their main home.  Nothing stop them registering at where they are at college e.g. at Halls of Residence etc.  There is no problem with being on an electoral register more than once in different parts of the country – any offence is voting twice in the same type of election.

 

Q          Should I tick the opt-out box if I want to avoid junk mail?

 

A      It can help.  Not being on the edited register (i.e. the copy we have to make available to sell) by ticking the opt-out box means that if anyone buys the register for marketing purposes your name and address will not be shown. You can also request to opt-out (i.e. not be on the edited register by the free phone, internet service, but not SMS).  However, if you are concerned about junk mail you should consider registering with the Mail Preference Scheme.

 

Q       I am only renting the property do I need to register?

 

A        Generally yes.  It is not like the Census though i.e. where you are on a set day, but if this is where you are currently residing as your main residence you should do so.  This will also prevent you having problems in the future with possible credit ratings.

 

Q       My wife/husband is now resident in an Older Person Home what do I do?

 

A      Cross their name off the form and return it to us if the person is no longer permanently lives at the household.  We canvass OAP homes separately and the Head of Home should register all residents.

 

Q       I am French and want to vote here in the European Elections – what do I need to do?

 

A      Make sure you are registered.  France is an EU country and you are entitled to be registered.  Will be shown with a G marker i.e. only entitled to vote at local government elections (NOT UK parliamentary though).  We shall send at the end of the canvass a special form to be completed so we can change your status to a K marker i.e. entitled to vote in local government elections and at the European Parliamentary elections from this country.

 

Q       My son/daughter is 18 on 2nd November this year do I include them?

 

A      They should already be shown on the register as they should have been included with a date of their 18^th birthday during last year’s canvass.  We need to capture everyone who is eligible including those “attainers” i.e. youngsters who become 18 during the register year which runs from 1^st December to 30 November. Their 18^th birth date will show next to their name.

 

Q       I do not want to be called for jury service – how do I avoid this?

 

A      If you are aged 70 or over this column should be marked to indicate that you are not entitled to be included for jury service (i.e. over 70).  If you think you should not be included for jury service for whatever reason you have an opportunity explain this if you ever get called.

 

Q       I am concerned that my ex-partner may be able to find me if I register?

 

A        Potentially yes if you are registered in your own name.  Would suggest that you tick the opt-out box and you could consider being recorded by a different name e.g. mother’s maiden name.  You must remember this though and the implications if you try to get credit and when you go to vote. We accept forms on face value and would not challenge your entry.  Since June 2007 there is a facility to register anonymously in such incidences but you must have a Court Order etc., or if it is to do with your job e.g. policeman - the form must be signed by the Chief Constable.

 

For anonymous registration details click on the link below.

 

Q       We spend 6 months of the year in Spain do we need to register?

 

A      Yes, suggest that you do as this is still your main home in this country and you spend a considerable time here.  Alternative is that you do not register at your house but register as Overseas electors – get shown as “Other Electors” on the same register.  This only entitles you to vote in Parliamentary elections.  We would send a form to you abroad each autumn.

 

Q       The property is only lived in at the week-ends as it is a holiday home do we need to register or return the form?

 

A      Up to you.  You can register at your main home and/or this holiday home.  Any offence is voting twice in the same type of election.  We need a form back though to say e.g. “holiday home”.

 

Q       I am in the Forces do I need to register?

 

A      Can register as normal electors at your household such as if the service voter works locally e.g. at RAF Cosford.  Alternately if the voter is say in the Army and keeps being posted abroad etc., I would suggest they register as a Service Voter – special form for this and for their spouse.  Would require a postal or proxy registration – form included as part of the registration process.

 

Q       We are moving to live abroad how do I still vote?

 

A        Delete your names from the form and return it to us and request an Overseas electors form.  You will get shown as “Other Electors” on the same register.  This only entitles you to vote in Parliamentary elections.  We would send a form to you abroad each autumn

 

Q       Can I add my name(s) to the register on the internet/free-phone or by SMS text?

 

A      NO, the electronic registration methods using the free-phone, text and internet is only for confirmations of existing electors, though you can use this facility to opt –out of the edited register and request a postal or proxy vote (not by SMS though).

 

Q       Why should I send the form back when you know I live here?

 

A      Is a legal requirement to make a return and register if you are eligible.  The Electoral Registration Officer is legally required to carry out “house to house enquires” to establish who is present and to door-knock to chase up non-responders.

 

Q       How do I get a postal or proxy vote?

 

A      Ring up and ask for one or request us to send you a form from marking the box on the form you return.  This can also be done electronically. We have to send you a special form from our computer system as we need to capture your signature and date of birth in set places so we can scan the form for fraud checking purposes in an election.

 

Q       I have had the wrong form delivered to my house?

 

A      If you can deliver the form for us, please do so – they may have your form by mistake.  If not please return to us and we shall send you a new blank form and we shall re-deliver this form.

 

Q       My postcode or other part of the address is wrong?

 

A        Please amend it to what you think or know it to be and we shall check our records and amend it accordingly.

 

Q       I live on a narrow boat – can I be registered?

 

A      YES – we will record you under your boat’s name at a mooring in our area.  You can give a correspondence address so we can write to you, send poll cards etc.

 

Q       I own a camper van and have no permanent address – can I still be registered?

 

A      YES – we can send a local connection form for you to complete – this is for “homeless persons” i.e. persons with no fixed abode but is used for persons who have a local connection to our area.  The address and the associated register we would attach this elector to would be a previous address in our area an the elector would be recorded under “other electors” at the back of the appropriate register.

 

Q       The form has the names of the previous residents of my house – should I forward them to you?

 

A      NO – the form is meant for you and your household.  Simply cross out their names on the form and add your name(s) on the blank lines, sign and date the form and send return it freepost.

 

Q       I do not want a postal vote but there is already a tick in the box against my name?

 

A      If you no longer wish to have a postal vote, simply cross out the pre-printed tick, sign and return the form to us.  We will amend our forms accordingly.

 

Q       I expect to move home in the next few weeks – what should I do?

 

A      Wait until you are sure where you will be on the 15^th October.  If you will still be at this address, complete the from and return it or use the free phone, SMS or internet services.  If you will have moved by this date then leave the form for the new occupants and remember to complete a new form at your new address.

 

Q       My son/daughter is 16/17 – should I include his/her name on the form?

 

A      YES – all 17 year olds and 16 year olds who will be 17 by 1^st December this year should be included on the new register.  They may vote as soon as they become 18.  Please do not disappoint them by missing their name off the form.

 

 

Links

 

Anonymous registration

 

Contact

 

Phil Hardy