Canvassers to visit Wokingham residents not yet registered to vote
In line with last year’s new legislation about registering for elections, Wokingham Borough Council will once again this year be sending canvassers to properties who have not registered to vote, in a bid to help people make sure they are registered and able to vote at elections.
The new registration rules require electoral registration officers to send second ‘reminder’ registration forms to properties who have not responded to the first one, and then to send out canvassers to non-responding properties. Some 60 canvassers, who have all received special training, will be visiting households in the borough who have not registered to vote between November 1 and November 16. All canvassers will carry official Wokingham Borough Council identification cards.
The canvassers will only visit properties where there has been no response from the earlier forms sent by post – one of these was sent at the beginning of September and the second is being sent to non-responding properties during the week beginning October 1.
“If residents don’t register, they can’t vote, and will lose their say in local politics,” said electoral services manager Alison Wood. “In addition, the register is used by all the main credit companies as a check when anyone wants a mortgage, a loan or even a mobile phone. If they are not listed, residents may find it difficult to get approval for these kinds of services.”
Canvassers will knock on doors and ask for the information requested on the form, which includes the names of all those who currently live in the property, their nationalities, whether they are aged over 70, and whether they would like their names to be excluded from the edited electoral register. (The edited register can be sold to mailing companies. Credit companies have access to the unedited version). There is a tick-box for residents who wish to apply for a postal vote and, although residents need to be 18 or over to vote in elections, 16 and 17-year-olds can also be included on the form. Providing the information on the form is a legal requirement. Any Wokingham resident wanting to know more about electoral registration or about the canvassers should call electoral services on (0118) 974 6522/6523.
The new registration rules require electoral registration officers to send second ‘reminder’ registration forms to properties who have not responded to the first one, and then to send out canvassers to non-responding properties. Some 60 canvassers, who have all received special training, will be visiting households in the borough who have not registered to vote between November 1 and November 16. All canvassers will carry official Wokingham Borough Council identification cards.
The canvassers will only visit properties where there has been no response from the earlier forms sent by post – one of these was sent at the beginning of September and the second is being sent to non-responding properties during the week beginning October 1.
“If residents don’t register, they can’t vote, and will lose their say in local politics,” said electoral services manager Alison Wood. “In addition, the register is used by all the main credit companies as a check when anyone wants a mortgage, a loan or even a mobile phone. If they are not listed, residents may find it difficult to get approval for these kinds of services.”
Canvassers will knock on doors and ask for the information requested on the form, which includes the names of all those who currently live in the property, their nationalities, whether they are aged over 70, and whether they would like their names to be excluded from the edited electoral register. (The edited register can be sold to mailing companies. Credit companies have access to the unedited version). There is a tick-box for residents who wish to apply for a postal vote and, although residents need to be 18 or over to vote in elections, 16 and 17-year-olds can also be included on the form. Providing the information on the form is a legal requirement. Any Wokingham resident wanting to know more about electoral registration or about the canvassers should call electoral services on (0118) 974 6522/6523.
Wokingham Borough Council
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