[H]ouseholds in Eden District are being sent letters as part of the Annual Canvass of Electors, which is undertaken to ensure the Electoral Register is complete and accurate.
From the end of July 2017 every household in Eden will receive a letter and form called a Household Enquiry Form (HEF) from the District Council’s Elections Office. The letter will be addressed to the occupier and the form will have the details of all those currently registered to vote.
Residents must respond to the form or they can face a fine. The letter asks you to check the details of the people who are currently registered to vote. Anyone in the household can respond to the HEF. The letter will also give you details on how you can respond.
Check your details
If all the details on the form are correct you can use the text, phone or online service to respond to the form (see the letter for details). If you respond by one of these methods you don’t need to return the paper form, this helps save money by reducing the Council’s postage costs.
If the details are wrong, for example someone has moved out or you have recently moved in, you need to make the changes and let the Council know. If you have access to the internet you can make the changes online by following the instructions in the letter. If you use the online service you don’t need to return the paper form. If you cannot use the online service, complete and return the form in the pre-paid envelope provided.
What happens next
If you respond to the HEF stating that there are no changes, the Council will not contact you again as part of the 2017 canvass.
If you respond to the HEF telling us that new people are now living at the property the Council will send each person an Invitation to Register (ITR). New legislation means that the Council can no longer update the register from the household form. Each person must register. You can respond to the ITR, or register, by going online at www.gov.uk/registertovote
If you amend any of the information on the HEF the Council may contact you again for further details.
Reminders
If you do not respond to the HEF the Council is required, by law, to send reminders. Please help the Council to save money by responding to the first form by Friday 11 August 2017. If a household does not respond to any of the HEF forms or ITRs the Council must send a canvasser to visit the property. Completion of the HEF is a legal requirement and failure to provide the information could lead to a fine.
For more information about the Annual Canvass of Electors contact Eden District Council’s Elections Office by email: [email protected] or telephone: 01768 212253.
