Annual Canvass
In August 2020, all households in Angus and Perth & Kinross will receive an electoral registration form asking residents to check whether the information that appears on the electoral register for those living at their address is correct.
The aim of the form is to ensure that the electoral register is up to date and to identify any residents who are not registered so that they can be encouraged to do so.
The annual canvass is an opportunity for people to check the form whether they are registered and if they are asked to respond then they must do so.
This includes asking for anyone living in the household to register if they are:
- A British or Irish citizen, a qualifying foreign national or European Union citizen. A foreign citizen must be resident in Scotland and either have leave to enter or remain in the UK or not require such leave.
- Aged 14 or older (15 year olds and some 14 year olds are also entitled to be included on the register as ‘attainers’)
You can vote in Scottish Parliamentary or local government elections once you are 16, and can vote in UK Parliamentary elections once you are 18.) - Anyone that wants to vote in elections must be registered.
Prior to the canvass forms being sent, most registered electors will have been data matched against national records held by the Department for Work and Pensions.
In these cases those households will be notified of the names of all registered electors and do not need to respond to the canvass letter.
If the information detailed in the form is incorrect, such as people moving in, or out, or if a householder wants to change their voting method then then correct information can be supplied to the Electoral Registration Officer.
For the remaining households where only some of the electors were data matched, then they will asked to respond to confirm the names of the registered electors or supply the Electoral Registration Officer with the correct details.
Householders can respond to the form by either replying by the text, email or via the web address provided, or some forms which require the householder to respond can be posted back in a pre-paid envelope, which will be provided.
Anyone failing to respond will be sent reminders letters and may receive a telephone call, reminder email or a household visit in an effort to obtain a response.
The Electoral Registration Officer aims to publish the revised register of electors for both Angus and Perth & Kinross on 1 December 2020 although delaying publication can be extended to 1 February 2021.
Any residents who have any questions can contact the Electoral Registration Office in Forfar on 01307 499910, or in Perth at 01738 630303, but please note that due to all staff working from home that you may leave a voicemail and a contact number. A member of staff will respond to you as soon as practicable.
Angus residents can email the Electoral Registration Officer at angus@tayside-vjb.gov.uk
Perth & Kinross residents can email the Electoral Registration Officer at perth@tayside-vjb.gov.uk