2023 Wiltshire electoral register update underway
The annual canvass is about to begin
Wiltshire Council has announced it is starting the annual process of ensuring the county’s electoral register is up to date.
The yearly canvass is a legal requirement of the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) and runs between July and November.
The updated register will be published on 1st December 2023.
How it works
Each household will receive a form of canvass communication, in either an email, letter, or form.
It will ask each recipient to confirm who lives at the address, in order to find out who is eligible to vote.
However, the communications won’t be sent out at the same time and will contain instructions on whether a household needs to reply.
Once instructions have been received, the quickest way for a household to confirm details on the Electoral Register is by using the online system and security codes on the email or letter.
More than once person in the household may receive a letter or email from the Council, but only one person needs to respond if that does happen.
It is encouraged that digital forms of response are used, with over half of last year’s replies being made online, by text, or by phone.
Responses are required as quickly as possible.
Legal obligation
Terence Herbert, Wiltshire Council Chief Executive and Electoral Registration Officer, says everyone is has a legal obligation to confirm their details.
He said: “Now more than ever, we encourage residents to respond to the canvass electronically if they can. Responding to the canvass online is quicker, easier and saves the council money, which means we can invest more in vital services.”