HOUSEHOLDS in the West Devon Council area will soon be receiving a form asking residents to check whether the information that appears on the electoral register for those living at their address is correct as part of the annual voter registration canvass.

The aim of the form is to ensure that the electoral register is up to date and to identify any residents who are not registered so that they can be encouraged to do so.

Steve Jorden, electoral registration officer at West Devon Borough Council, said: ‘Anyone wishing to vote must be registered.

‘To make sure you can have your say in a referendum or vote in an election, check the form when it arrives.  Make sure that everyone who is eligible is included.

‘You can fill in the form online using the security codes pre-printed on the form or send it back in the prepaid envelope.  The information you provide will enable us to send a registration form to anyone who needs to be added or they can go online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

‘It’s particularly important that anyone who has moved address recently looks out for the form and checks whether they are registered. It is a brown envelope addressed ‘to the occupier’. Please make sure that you provide the information either online or by post or you could be fined £1,000.’

 Kay Jenkins, head of English regions at the Electoral Commission, said: ‘The annual canvass is an opportunity for people to easily check whether they’re registered. It’s essential for a healthy democracy that everyone who is entitled to vote is able to, and for those who need to, registering is now easier than ever with the online system of registration.

‘If you have changed address in the last year, it’s particularly likely that you will need to register at your new address, so check the form as soon as it arrives.’

 With the Police and Crime Commissioner elections taking place across the Devon and Cornwall Police Area in May 2016 and the possibility of a referendum being held during the lifetime of the register, this is an opportunity for residents to make sure that when the elections take place they will easily be able to take part.

 If you would like more information or would like to be removed from the open register then visit www.westdevon.gov.uk/hef or call the helpline on 01822 813604.