Annual Canvass-2

Don’t lose your vote – residents in the Cotswolds urged to check voter registration details

Cotswold District residents are being urged to check their electoral registration details to avoid losing their right to vote on important decisions that affect them.

The Council has begun its Annual Canvass to ensure that everyone’s voting information is up to date.

With Gloucestershire County Council elections taking place in 2025, this is an opportunity for residents to make sure their details are correctly logged so that they can take part in the election. 

Recent home movers in particular are urged to check their details. Electoral Commission research has found that recent home movers are less likely to be registered than those who have lived at the same address for a long time. In Great Britain, 92% of those who have lived in their home for 16 years will be registered, compared with 36% of people who have lived at an address for less than a year.  

The Council will directly contact all households with instructions between August and October. Householders are encouraged to read the instructions carefully and respond as required. 

The first communication was an email sent from 29 August and the Council encourages people to respond to that email to avoid the Council having to send a letter out by post.

Robert Weaver, Electoral Registration Officer at Cotswold District Council, said: “Keep an eye out for communications which will include instructions on how to ensure your household is fully registered for the next election. Please read the instructions carefully, whether they arrive by post or email.

“The annual canvass is our way of making sure that the information on the electoral register is accurate for every address. To keep your right to vote at the next election, please make sure you respond. 

“If you receive an email from us please follow the instructions provided so we don't need to send follow-ups, helping us save both money and paper.

“If you don’t hear from the council, it may mean you are not on the register. If you want to register, the easiest way is online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.” 

Residents can find out more about elections on the website at cotswold.gov.uk/elections. Anyone with questions about their registration status can contact the council’s electoral services team at Elections@cotswold.gov.uk or by calling 01285 623002. 

Contact Information

Cotswold District Council Communications Team

press@cotswold.gov.uk

Notes to editors

Notes to editors 

  1. The Representation of the People Act 1983 places a duty on electoral registration officers to maintain the electoral register for their area and to conduct an annual canvass of all residential properties. 
  2. The electoral register lists the names and addresses of everyone who is registered to vote. The register is used for electoral purposes, such as making sure only eligible people can vote. It is also used for other reasons as specified in law, such as detecting crime (e.g. fraud), calling people for jury service or checking credit applications. 
  3. The open register is an extract of the electoral register, but is not used for elections. It can be bought by any person, company or organisation. For example, it is used by businesses and charities to confirm name and address details. Your name and address will be included in the open register unless you ask for them to be removed. Removing your details from the open register does not affect your right to vote. 
  4. To be eligible to register to vote a person must be: 
    1. aged 16 or over (a person may register to vote at 16, but may not vote until they are 18) 
    2. a British or qualifying Commonwealth citizen who has leave to enter and remain in the UK or does not require such leave. 
    3. a citizen of the Republic of Ireland or other European Union (EU) member state 
  5. British citizens, Irish citizens and qualifying Commonwealth citizens can vote in local elections in England and Northern Ireland, Mayor of London and London Assembly elections, Police and Crime Commissioner elections and general elections. 
  6. EU nationals legally resident in the UK may currently register to vote in local government elections, providing they meet with the age and residency requirements and that they are not legally incapable of voting. The Elections Act 2022 changed the eligibility of some EU citizens to vote, more details can be found https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/blog/changes-eu-citizens-some-uk-elections  
  7. The changes in voting rights for EU nationals will not affect voters from Cyprus, Malta and Ireland. 
  8. Full details of the Electoral Commission’s research on the electoral registers can be found on its website.