Annual Electoral Registration Canvass
This week sees the start of the annual electoral registration canvass.
This week sees the start of the annual electoral registration canvass.
By August 10 every household in the district should have received a form which should be filled in and returned.
And this year, for the first time, Lancaster City Council is offering a cash incentive for those who return their forms early.
Everyone who confirms their details, or registers changes to the existing, by September 15 will be entered into a free prize draw to win a first prize of £500. There will also be second and third prizes of £250 and £100 respectively.
By returning the forms early there will be less burden on the council's team of canvassers, who will be visiting every property that has not registered their details by September 15.
Alison Braidford, Lancaster City Council’s elections' officer, said: "It is vitally important that residents re-register their details.
"Remember - Your Vote is Your Voice, so make sure you're registered and make yourself heard at election time.
"But being on the Electoral Register is not just about voting, most people discover they are not on the Electoral Register when they have been declined an application for credit or opening a bank account.
“Residents are asked to complete and return their form if they have any changes to make to their details. If they have no changes it's cheaper and quicker for them to use the telephone or internet registration services and follow the instructions given."
If there have been no changes in your household you can re-register using the Freephone telephone service (0800 025 0905) or the internet registration service.
You will need to reconfirm your details in order to continue to be on to the electoral roll and ensure that you can vote in future elections.
Households are also be able re-register if their details are unchanged using the internet, log onto www.elecreg.co.uk/lancaster, enter your special two-part security code printed on your canvass form and follow the on screen instructions.
If you use the telephone or internet registration service there is no need for you to return your form as well.
Both systems accommodate the ‘opt-out’ rules (introduced in 2002), allowing users to add or remove their names from the edited version of the register used by mailing companies.
By law the council is required to make copies of the edited register available to purchase, so if you don't want your details to be available to marketing companies ask for them to be removed from this version.
The system also allows users to request postal vote application forms.
Both these systems are now available in Bengali, Polish, Mandarin and Punjabi translations.
What if there are changes?
If there are changes to the information given on the form, members of the public should complete and return the form using the pre paid facility without delay.
What if I move after October 15?
After the register has been published, people can still apply to be added, for example when they move house, and forms can be obtained from Lancaster or Morecambe Town Halls, by phoning 01524 582905, or via the internet www.lancaster.gov.uk/elections .
What if I don’t receive a form?
If a form is not delivered to your property by August 15 or you have any other questions, help is available from the council – telephone 01524 582905.
Date Updated: 19/03/09