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Annual canvass

Each year, the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) has a legal requirement to do an annual canvass to make sure the electoral register is accurate and complete. In 2020, the Annual Canvass was reformed by the Cabinet Office with new instructions for the ERO to follow which were set in law.

The Annual Canvass helps us update information about who is living at each address, including any 16 or 17 year olds. This information is then used to invite unregistered residents to register to vote and to remove names of those who no longer live at the address.

Additions and amendments made to the electoral register during the household canvass will take effect once the revised Register of Electors is published on the 1 December 2021.

From August we will be sending a letter to every household asking residents to check the information is correct, even if you have recently registered to vote.

How it works

New canvass form black and white canvass form

You will get a new style canvass form via Royal Mail post addressed to ‘The Occupier’.

If you get the blue form, you must respond even if there are no changes. You must check the information is correct and respond in one of three ways:

  • online
  • phone
  • post

If you don't complete the information promptly, we may also call you, send reminders by post or visit your home to make sure we get a response.

If you get the black and white form, you don't need to respond if there are no changes to be made. Check the information on the form and if there are any changes, you can respond online or by phone.

The quickest and easiest way to confirm your details or let us know about any changes is online. Enter your postcode and the security code printed on the letter. Once you have logged in you can tell us if the information is correct or update the information.

You must include the name and nationality of everyone aged 16 or over who is resident and eligible to register to vote. If there are no eligible residents, you should say why they're not eligible.

For more information on the voting register, visit How to register to vote.