Make sure you don’t lose the right to vote

Tuesday, 5 September 2023 15:55

By David Murphy

Canvassers will be visiting people’s homes from next week to make sure residents don’t lose the right to vote.

Bury Council is carrying out its annual canvass of the Electoral Register to make sure it is up to date.

All households have been sent reminders during the summer and now staff will be calling round to addresses where no one is registered to vote or the occupiers have not responded.

The canvass starts on Monday 11 September and those carrying it out will have full ID. They will ask a series of questions but will never ask for financial information. They may call round at weekends or in the evening.

Lynne Ridsdale, Bury’s Electoral Registration Officer and chief executive, said: “We carry out the annual canvass by law and it is an important part of making sure that as many people as possible have the right to vote.

“It is simpler this year for people whose circumstances have not changed. However, the register is often not accurate for people who have lived in a property for less than a year.

“If your circumstances have changed or if the information on the register is not accurate you may be denying yourself or other people living in your household the opportunity to vote.

“Our canvassers are part of this important process to make sure people are able to exercise their democratic rights.”

If you have not registered to vote you can do so by visiting www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.

Anyone who lives in your household, if they are over 18 and would be eligible to vote, can update the register for a household. Those aged 16 and 17 can register to vote and will become eligible on their 18^th birthday.

Information on registering to vote is available on the Electoral Commission website.