What is the annual canvass of electors?
The council has to undertake a canvass of all households every year. This is so that it can prepare and publish a new electoral register.
I’ve received a form from you. What do I do with it?
There are three different forms:
- CCA
- CCB
- CF
The letters in the bottom right-hand corner of the first page identifies the type of form.
You can respond to the forms using the security codes printed.
CCA
We believe that we already have the correct people registered to vote at the property.
You don’t need to respond if
- all information is correct, and
- the form includes everyone eligible to register to vote at this address
You must respond if any details are wrong or missing.
CCB and CF
We have been unable to confirm all the details at the property.
You must respond so we can check who, if anyone, is eligible to register to vote.
If there are names printed on the form:
Those people are currently registered to vote at the property. Are their details correct?
Does anyone else live there? If so, please tell us who else is eligible to register to vote at the property.
If there are no names printed on the form:
Does anyone live at the property? If so, please tell us who is eligible to register to vote at the property.
If no-one at the property is eligible to vote or it is currently empty, you still need to respond. You will be able to let us know why no electors are registered.
Is it your second home or holiday home? If so, you should register at your main home but you do still need to respond to the form to let us know you are registered elsewhere.
Is the data I enter online secure?
The online registration service and the data you provide is secure. It has been independently accredited, tested for security and developed to meet best practice guidelines for data security.
Why do you keep sending me these forms every year? It is a waste of my time and the council's money.
The law dictates that we have to complete a canvass of every property in the District, annually. We are obliged to compile accurate records and this is our way of obtaining information from each household.
If I add a name to the form, does this mean they are automatically registered?
No. They will need to complete an application at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote to provide us with the additional information we need to register them. If they do not register, we will then send them further forms to remind them to do this.
I am concerned that by putting my personal details on the register my details will be sold on or used for other purposes, what should I do?
Make sure you opt out of the Open register if you do not want your name to appear on this version of the register for the coming year. The council must make the Open register available for general sale and it can be used for any purpose.
Everyone will be included in the full register, which is used for voting purposes and supplied to the Credit Reference Agencies.
Please contact us by emailing electoral.services@easthants.gov.uk or on 01730 234350 if you need more information on opting out or, for serious cases, anonymous registration.
Why do you need my contact details - are these going to be published anywhere or passed on to anyone else?
We find it extremely useful to have, either a contact telephone number or e-mail address for you. If we have a query during the canvass or in the run up to an election, we may need to contact you urgently and this helps us to do so.
We do not divulge these details to anyone else - they are purely for the use of the Electoral Services Office.
Why do you need to know my nationality?
You can only go on the register if you are:
- British
- Irish
- Commonwealth citizens
- Citizens of the European Union
There may be further restrictions on who is eligible to vote on the grounds of nationality. This depends on the type of election contested. For example, European citizens cannot vote in UK Parliamentary Elections. However, they can vote in local elections.
Full list of eligible nationalities
Why do you want to know the details of 16 or 17 year olds ? Surely, they are too young to vote anyway?
As soon as someone reaches their 18th birthday, they can vote in relevant elections from that day onwards. This is providing that they are on the Register of Electors. By adding their details to the form, we will know that they need to register.
They will need to complete an application at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote to provide us with the additional information we need to register them.
If they do not register, we will then send them further forms to remind them to do this.
Why do people over 76 years old have to be identified?
If you are over 76, please indicate this on your form or when you register online. Following a recent change in the law, you can serve on a jury up to the age of 75. Anyone over 75 is no longer eligible to perform Jury service and we have to supply this information to the Jury Summoning Service.
Why do you need to know my previous address if I moved within the last year?
Even though you should tell the Electoral Registration Officer by law when you move house, some people forget to do so. By giving us your old address, we can check our records to ensure your details are removed from your old property.
I would like to vote by post at future elections, how can I do this?
If you wish to apply for a postal vote, you can download an application form.
The completed form can be returned as an attached photo or scanned image by email to electoral.services@easthants.gov.uk or by post.
I would like to vote by proxy at future elections, how can I do this?
If you wish to apply for a proxy vote, you can download an application form.
The completed form can be returned as an attached photo or scanned image by email to electoral.services@easthants.gov.uk or by post.
Why has someone come to my house to ask me for information?
If we still haven't received a reply by a certain date, we employ canvassers to go door knocking in some areas. It is their job to chase up any outstanding information.
Why do we need to tell the elections office and the council tax office if we move - surely it's all just one council?
Electoral Registration and council tax operate under different legislative rules. Whether people are eligible to vote is not something the council tax office knows - or needs to know – for its job of collecting a local property tax.
Council tax keeps records of the main householder who pays the bills, with perhaps just a note of their partner, husband or wife. Council tax records can be a useful reference. The Electoral Registration Officer is allowed to inspect these. However, on their own provide insufficient detail about members of a household for the purposes of registering them to vote.
The Electoral Registration Officer keeps a separate list of all eligible voters living at the property. This could include other residents in addition to the bill payer(s). For example, family members.
It is a legal requirement for you to inform the Electoral Registration Officer where you are living.
Why does my poll number change every year?
Every time we publish a new Register of Electors, most people are given a different poll number. Sometimes there are more people or fewer people on the Register within your area. As such, the poll numbers need to be adjusted. They may be slightly higher or lower than previously. They may alter significantly if there is a boundary change in your area.
My family and I are hoping to go and live abroad - can we still register and vote?
Yes you can. However, overseas electors need to complete a separate registration form annually.
You can register to vote on the GOV.UK website and use the link contained under the section headed “if you live abroad”.
Can I still register to vote although I am working overseas?
If you are working away from home for less than six months then you can still register at your home address.
I am currently serving in the armed forces how should I register?
Services Electors (Army, Royal Navy, RAF) can now register in either one of two ways. They may register as a civilian or they may register specifically as a service voter.
You can register to vote on the GOV.UK website and use the link contained under the section headed “If you’re a public servant posted overseas”.
Please note that service voters only have to register once every five years.
I have a query which is not covered by any of the sections listed above. Who should I contact for help?
Contact East Hampshire District Council's Electoral Services team by email at electoral.services@easthants.gov.uk or on 01730 234350.