Have you received an invitation to register to vote
In the last few weeks St Albans City & District Council has sent 5,500 invitations to potential electors asking them to register to vote. This is part of the canvass that is carried out each year by the Council to ensure that the electoral register is up-to-date.
Anyone invited to register needs to return their completed form, or register online, to ensure that their name appears in the revised register. Not being included in the register means they will not be able to vote in future elections, and it may also affect their credit ratings.
The public are asked to please respond as promptly as possible to avoid the need for a reminder to be sent or a canvasser having to visit their homes.
Anyone eligible to vote but not already registered, can register online now at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote. It is not necessary to wait for an invitation to come from the Council.
Mike Lovelady, Electoral Registration Officer at St Albans City & District Council, said: “Have you received an invitation to register to vote? If you have, but have not yet registered, please complete the form or go online to www.gov.uk/register-to-vote and register.
“Research indicates that recent home movers are less likely to be registered than those who have lived at the same address for a long time. We want to make it possible for everyone to vote if they are eligible to do so.”
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: https://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.