Electoral canvass is under way

COPELAND’S annual electoral canvass is under way - and residents are being urged to ensure they have the right to vote.

The annual event asks people to confirm their details, or make any changes, so that they can be included on the new Register of Electors which will be published on December 1, 2018, ahead of local elections in May 2019.

The process started with a two-week electronic canvass period where all properties that have an associated email address have been sent an email by Copeland Council asking for confirmation of eligible residents at the property.

Those outstanding residents will now receive a household enquiry form on or around Wednesday, August 8, to which people can respond in different ways. To make changes, including adding new electors, residents can use the council’s easy-to-use online system or complete and return the form by post. If there are no changes to be made, this can be confirmed via the online system or by telephone or text message. Details of how to do this will be on the form.

Residents are urged to respond by the deadline of Tuesday, August 28. By law, the council has to send reminder letters and visit the households of non-responders, the cost of which has to be met by the authority. 

New residents can easily register online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote with their National Insurance number, or the council can send a paper form if necessary. Contact 01946 598300 or email elections@copeland.gov.uk to request this.

Copeland’s Electoral Registration Officer, Pat Graham, said: “It’s important that residents respond as soon as possible, so we can make sure we have the right details on the electoral register for every address in Copeland.

“To make sure you are able to have your say at next year’s elections, simply check the form when it arrives and respond as soon as you can.”