Annual canvass process set to start in Wiltshire

Wiltshire Council is starting its annual process of ensuring the county's electoral register is up to date.

Each year the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) has a legal requirement to conduct a canvass to ensure the electoral register is accurate and complete.

Some Wiltshire residents will be contacted via email soon and will be asked to confirm that the details held for their household are correct. The email, from Wiltshire Council's Electoral Services, will ask people to confirm any changes to their details at www.householdresponse.com (opens new window). It will also include their security codes and steps on how to access their household details. The council may email more than one person in the same household, but only one person from each household needs to respond if necessary. Responses are required as soon as possible to avoid forms being sent to your property.

If required, forms will be sent in the post at the beginning of July asking residents to check their details are correct. Not every resident will need to respond to the form they receive. There will be clear instructions about the process on every correspondence sent as part of the canvass.

Wiltshire Council encourages all residents to respond to the annual canvass electronically if they can. It's more convenient for residents and saves the council money and time.

As part of this process, Wiltshire Council or the Electoral Commission will never ask people for their bank details.

Terence Herbert, Wiltshire Council Chief Executive and Returning Officer, said: People have a legal obligation to confirm their details and I would encourage them to do so as soon as possible. The annual canvass can be done quickly and easily by following the instructions on the email and visiting www.householdresponse.com (opens new window).

Now more than ever, we encourage residents to respond to the canvass electronically if they can. Responding to the canvass online is quicker, easier and saves the council money, which means we can invest more in vital services.

Those residents unable to confirm their details online will be sent forms in the post at the beginning of July.

Ensuring that the electoral register is accurate and having an engaged electorate provides a strong platform for Wiltshire Council to achieve what it has set out in its Business Plan.

More details, including FAQs can be found at .