Keep your right to vote

Dorset residents are being urged to go online and spend five minutes to complete the council’s annual canvass.

This is to confirm the details of those living at the address to ensure the electoral roll is updated accurately.

There have been local and national elections this year, but the annual canvass is still a legal requirement and will be carried out by Local Authorities across the UK.

The canvass allows us to keep the electoral register up to date, to identify who is at risk losing their voice at elections, and to encourage them to register before it’s too late.

Additionally, it plays a crucial role in jury service selection and is often used in credit checks for mortgages and other financial purposes.

Jonathan Mair, Director of Legal & Democratic, Dorset Council, said:
“It is important that everyone who is entitled to vote can do so. I encourage residents to keep a look out for the email and help us keep costs down by responding online if possible.

“It only takes a couple of minutes to respond and saves you from being contacted by our team, who will get in touch by post, email, or in person if you don’t reply.”

Look out for an email from elections@elections@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk and follow guidelines.

If your name is on the email you receive, then you are already on the electoral register and you do not need to register again unless your circumstances change. If you’re not registered, your name will not appear on the email, and you need to register. The easiest way to register is online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote . In either case, you will still need to respond to the email.

However, households that don’t respond to the email, or if we don’t have an email address, will be sent a letter.

This year, the council is also required to review all European citizens registered to vote. If we cannot confirm that an EU voter has resided in the UK before 31 December 2020 by checking historical electoral records, a letter or email will be sent to the voter to confirm their eligibility under the new criteria.

EU citizens who receive a letter confirming their eligibility to vote do not need to take further action. They remain eligible and can vote in upcoming elections, excluding UK Parliamentary elections.

If you have any questions about your registration status, you can contact the council’s electoral services team at elections@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk  or telephone: 01305 838299.