The Annual Electoral Canvass
What is the purpose of the annual canvass?
To ensure that we hold the correct details on our Electoral Register we are legally required to conduct a canvass of all households between July and November each year. Your household may be contacted via post, telephone or in person. The communication you receive from us will let you know if we require your response.
Do I have to respond to a canvass communication?
It depends on what type of communication you have received. Check the code underneath the contact details on the front of the form:
- CCA you only need to respond if there are changes to report (if you have changes you need to respond by law)
- CCB by law you must respond, even if there are no changes
- CF by law you must respond, even if there are no changes
How can I tell you about changes?
You can respond in four ways:
Online: at www.householdresponse.com/wyre This is the quickest way to respond for changes and no changes. There are four simple sections to complete, it should take 5-10 minutes.
SMS (text message): If you don’t need to tell us about any changes text NO CHANGE followed by part 1 and part 2 of your security code to 80212. If no-one is eligible to vote please include a reason after your security code, for example: empty, business, 2nd home, etc.
Automated telephone line: If you don’t need to tell us about any changes call 0800 8840701 and when prompted enter part 1 and part 2 of your security code.
By Post: Complete the details on the form and return it to Electoral Services, Civic Centre, Breck Road, Poulton-le-Fylde, FY6 7PU.
Please note: You need to include the name and nationality of everyone aged 16 or over who is resident and eligible to register to vote. If there are no eligible residents, you should state why this is the case. If anyone listed on the form is not living at your address, their name/s should be clearly crossed through.
I have received a telephone call about the annual canvass. Is this from the council?
Yes, we are undertaking telephone canvassing for properties that we hold contact details for and have not yet received their response to the letter we sent them. You can request to opt-out of being contacted for telephone canvassing in the future, by e-mailing electoral.services@wyre.gov.uk, confirming your full name and address.
Why do you still need to send a canvass communication every year?
In order to know who is eligible to register to vote, including any 16 and 17 year olds, we need to know who lives at your address. The canvass communication is designed to collect this information. The information provided on the form will allow us to send a separate individual registration form to all the people in your household who are eligible and need to register.
I have already returned a canvass communication, do I need to return the individual registration form I’ve received too?
Yes. The canvass communication is not a registration form, it purely provides us with details of who lives in the property. You need to respond to the individual registration form to be put on the register. You can do this online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote. It takes about 5 minutes, you just need to have your National Insurance number handy.
For more information, please email electoral.services@wyre.gov.uk