Residents in Rutland are being encouraged to take part in this year's annual canvass of electors, to ensure they can vote in next year's Police and Crime Commissioner elections and future UK Parliamentary General elections. 

The annual canvass is held from July to December each year and helps the Council to update the Local Register of electors. The Register is important as it ensures that those who are eligible can vote in elections, and it could affect your ability to access credit if you are not on it.  

People who have moved house recently are particularly encouraged to watch out for voter registration messages and to check who is registered to vote at their new address. 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. 

Local councils are required by law to organise and oversee the annual canvass in their area. Depending on the contact information you have provided to the Council previously, you will receive an email or letter asking you to take part in the canvass.

Around 6,000 canvass emails will be sent out this month, with paper canvass forms following in the post in early August. 

Make sure that you can vote in future elections by sending your details to the council. Image credit: Nub News.

If you receive an email about the canvass it will only be valid if it has come from the following secure email address: [email protected]. Depending on your computer settings, it is possible that if you have not received an email from us previously it could end up in your junk/spam folder – please check over the next week or two.

Letters will be sent out to properties where we need to confirm residents' details and these will be sent during August. Residents are asked to follow the instructions contained in their letter or email and respond as soon as possible.

Councils are required to make repeated attempts to contact electors who do not provide a response to the canvass, including the use of door-to-door canvassers to gather information.

Further information about registering to vote can be found online.

If you have any questions about the annual canvass you can contact Rutland County Council's local registration team by emailing: [email protected] or calling: 01572 720 954.