People living in Rutland are being urged to check their electoral registration details or risk losing their chance to vote on decisions that affect them. 

 With local elections taking place in Rutland in May 2023, this is an opportunity for residents to make sure they can take part. The annual canvass allows the Council to keep the electoral register up to date, to identify who risks losing their voice at elections and to encourage them to register before it's too late.

 Residents are being asked to look out for instructions from Rutland County Council. This is the Council's way of making sure information for every address on the electoral register is accurate.

 Emails have been sent to residents for whom the Council holds email addresses and whose household details are thought to be accurate by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

For households where data matched that of the DWP but no email addresses were held, a paper canvass form will be sent out by post in August, containing details on what is required and how to respond if necessary. 

 Different forms known as CCBs and identifiable by the CCB reference printed on the front page will shortly be going out to households whose details did not match those held by the DWP. If you receive one of these forms, you are legally required to respond to confirm the details are correct or change them if they are not. Full details on how to respond are contained on the form. Wherever possible, residents are asked to respond online to help save costs.

 Melanie Davidson, Head of Support and Improvement at the Electoral Commission, said: "It's really important that everyone who is eligible to vote is able to do so. We urge people to look out for updates from their local council on this year's canvass. If you are not registered to vote, make sure you provide the necessary information to your local council when asked and register to vote online." 

 Further information on registering to vote is available on the Electoral Commission website.

Residents with questions about their registration status can contact Rutland County Council's Electoral Services Team by calling: 01572 720 954 or emailing: [email protected].