Don’t forget to return your completed enquiry form for the electoral register
If you’ve not yet done so, please complete and return the canvass form sent by St Albans City and District Council to all households in the District.
The Council is making sure the electoral register is up-to-date and needs you to return your completed form, even if there are no changes.
All households were sent canvass forms in July and 58% have responded so far. The Council is now sending out reminder forms to 26,400 households that have yet to respond.
You can respond online, by freephone or by text. Details of how to do this are shown on the form together with the security codes that you will need for registration.
Mike Lovelady, Electoral Registration Officer at St Albans City & District Council, said: “Please check and, if necessary, update the information printed on the form for people living at that address.
“If someone’s name is missing from the form and needs to be added to the register, the Council will send a second form inviting them to register. They will need to complete and return this form to us, or register online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.”
If you are not registered you will not be able to vote in elections.
Elections for St Albans City and District Council and Hertfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner are being held in May 2016.
Residents who have questions can contact the elections team by email at canvass@stalbans.gov.uk or by telephoning 01727 819294.
More information is available on the Council’s website.
Councillor contact:
Cllr Beric Read, Community Engagement and Localism Portfolio Holder
St Albans City and District Council
Tel: 07956 220264
Email: cllr.b.read@stalbans.gov.uk
Contact for the media:
Ruth Boyer, Communications Officer, St Albans City and District Council
Tel: 01727 819316
E-mail: ruth.boyer@stalbans.gov.uk
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/StAlbansCouncil
Notes:
1. The electoral register lists the names and addresses of everyone who is registered to vote in public elections. The register is used for electoral purposes, such as making sure only eligible people can vote. It is also used for other limited purposes specified in law, such as: detecting crime (e.g. fraud); calling people for jury service; checking credit applications.
2. The names and addresses of people on the electoral register will be included in the open register unless they have asked for this information to be removed. Removing details from the open register does not affect the right to vote. The open register is an extract of the electoral register, but is not used for elections. It can be bought by any person, company or organisation. For example, it is used by businesses and charities to confirm name and address details.
3. To be eligible to register to vote in England a person must be:
• Aged 16 years or over (a person may register to vote at 16, but may not vote until they are 18).
• A British or qualifying Commonwealth citizen who has leave to enter and remain in the UK or does not require such leave.
• A citizen of the Republic of Ireland or other European Union (EU) member state.
4. British citizens, Irish citizens and qualifying citizens of Commonwealth countries (including Cyprus and Malta), as well as citizens of other EU member states can vote in local government elections and Police and Crime Commissioner elections in England and Wales.