98.15% response rate for electoral register update

An impressive 98.15% of households in the St Albans District responded to an annual campaign to update the electoral register.

Just over 60,000 homes were sent a household enquiry form in July by St Albans City and District Council’s electoral services team.

The form listed everyone who was currently registered to vote at each address and householders were asked to complete it even if no changes were required.

From late September, a team of electoral canvassers then visited the 12,000 households who did not return the form, offering them help to do so.

Now 98.15% of households – just over 59,000 - have responded and a revised Register of Electors in the District has been published.

Only people who are on the register are entitled to vote at local and general elections as well as referendums.

On Thursday 3 May, the District will go to the polls for District Council elections with 20 of the 58 seats to be contested.

People can still register to vote online or update their details if, for example, they have changed their address at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.

Mike Lovelady, Electoral Registration Officer for the District, said: “I am delighted with the response to our annual electoral canvass and thank everyone who has completed a household enquiry form.

“It is vitally important that we keep the electoral register up to date so we are ready for any forthcoming elections. We do not want any eligible person to miss out on the opportunity to have their say.

“Next May there are District Council elections, so we are pleased that we are now well prepared for that.”

Residents who have questions about the register can contact the elections team by email at elections@stalbans.gov.uk or by telephoning 01727 819294. 

More information is available on the Council’s website at: https://www.stalbans.gov.uk/council-and-elections

Media contact:
John McJannet, Principal Communications Officer, St Albans City and District Council. 
Tel: 01727 296130 
Email: john.mcjannet@stalbans.gov.uk

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 or checking credit applications.

2. 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. Your name and address will be included in the open register unless you ask for them to be removed. Removing your details from the open register does not affect your right to vote.

3. To be eligible to register to vote a person must be:

- Aged 16 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.