Don’t lose your voice: look out for your voter registration details from us
Wednesday, 15 July 2020
Don't lose your voice on decisions that affect you; make sure your electoral registration details are up to date.
With police and crime commissioner elections taking place in Central Bedfordshire in May 2021, this is an important opportunity for you to make sure you can take part.
The annual canvass ensures we can keep the electoral register up to date, identifying any residents who are not registered or have recently moved, so that they can be encouraged to do so. They would then be able take part in any future elections. You will receive a letter addressed to your household from the beginning of August.
Richard Carr, our Electoral Registration Officer, said:
It’s important that residents keep an eye out for our messages, so we can make sure we have the right details on the electoral register for every address in our area. To make sure you are able to have your say in any upcoming elections, simply follow the instructions from us.
If you’re not currently registered, your name will not appear in the messages we send. If you want to register, the easiest way is to register online, or we’ll send you information explaining how to register in the post.
This year’s canvass, which we have to carry out by law, is taking place during a challenging public health situation. We are working to ensure that we take account of public health guidelines, including the continued importance of social distancing.
We want everyone who is entitled to vote is able to do so. Making sure you provide the necessary information by electronic methods where possible to us, when it is needed, will ensure the process runs smoothly. This is particularly helpful in the current public health situation, as it will help avoid the need for home visits from canvassers.
There’s lots of helpful information about registering to vote on the Electoral Commission's website.
If you've moved recently, make sure you look out for the voter registration messages from us and check the details. Research by the Electoral Commission indicates that recent home movers are far less likely to be registered than those who have lived at the same address for a long time. Across Great Britain, 92% of people who have been at their property for more than sixteen years will be registered, compared to 36% of people who have lived at an address for less than one year.
If you have any questions, please email electoral.registration@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk.