READING’S annual canvass has begun again, where residents are asked to look out for and respond to emails from the council regarding their electoral eligibility.
The annual canvass is a key process carried out by the Council each year to ensure residents do not miss out on being able to vote.
Starting last week, the Council began emailing electors where it holds a valid email address and where it has been able to match details with the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP).
Residents must respond to this email to confirm the electoral register information is correct, or advise of any changes.
The council is urging residents who receive an email to respond as quickly as possible to avoid the cost and carbon footprint of reminder letters having to be sent later this year.
The quickest and easiest way to reply is online by following the details given in the email.
Where the Council does not hold a valid email address, a letter will be sent to households instead.
If there are no changes to the printed information in the communication, then residents do not need to respond to the letter.
Residents are however being asked to share their email address with the Council so that communications can be sent by email in the future.
Towards the end of July, some households will receive a ‘Canvass Communication B letter’ from the Council.
This communication will be sent to households where the council has been unable to match details with the Department of Work and Pensions.
Residents will need to respond to this letter to ensure the electoral register information is correct.
Residents are also being reminded that another important change has been introduced which means 18,000 electors will need to re-apply for their postal vote this year.
Following changes introduced by the Elections Act 2022, all postal voters are now required to reapply for their postal vote every three years.
All postal voters who made their current application before 31 October 2023 are required to reapply for their postal vote by 31 January 2026.
Michael Graham, Electoral Registration Officer at Reading Borough Council, said: “It’s really important that residents keep an eye out for either emails or letters from the Council over the coming days and weeks and respond to them as swiftly as possible.
“This is the first year the Council is using emails to contact electors as part of the annual canvass and it is important to emphasise that where residents receive an email from us, they need to respond to the Council even where all the details are correct. This is so that we know that the email has been received by the resident.
“Responses from residents allow us to keep the electoral register up to date, identify residents who are not registered and encourage them to do so.
“If you’re not currently registered, your name will not appear in the communications we send. If you are entitled to register, the easiest way is onlineor we’ll send you information explaining how to do this in the post.”
More information is available via: gov.uk/register-to-vote
