New style election canvass gets underway

PR2283/TC/MF - 08/07/2020

The annual election canvass starts in Mid Sussex on Monday 13 July and a new system will be used across the UK for the very first time.

Each year, everyone in the UK must confirm their electoral registration details are up-to-date by responding to the annual electoral canvass. This information is then used to ensure the electoral register is accurate.

Under the new system introduced this year, data held on the Electoral Register for each household is matched against the information on the Department of Work and Pensions database to check data is correct before households are contacted.

Residents who have provided the council with their email address details or mobile telephone number will be contacted by email or SMS on or around Monday 13 July and asked to confirm their details within 7 days. If the council holds no contact details, or a household fails to respond within 7 days, a letter will be issued by post asking them to confirm their details

Should the information on the electoral register fail to match with the Department of Work and Pension records, the household will receive an electoral registration form in the post at the end of July.

Tom Clark, Returning Officer for Mid Sussex said:

“Residents will shortly receive either an email or postal form with information about how to confirm their details on the electoral register.

“I urge everyone to respond by telephone, text message or online because this is by far the quickest and most most convenient way to respond.  By using these digital channels, all information is processed instantly and effectively, there’s no chance of the form being lost in the post and it’s environmentally friendly. It also provides taxpayers with savings when compared with the cost of posting back the form.

“The annual canvass must be held by law once a year and everyone must respond, even if you have recently registered or have been registered for many years. Make sure you don’t miss your opportunity to vote by responding promptly when contacted.”

For more information about registering to vote or elections contact the Mid Sussex District Council Electoral Services team by emailing elections@midsussex.gov.uk or calling 01444 477003.

ENDS