Wokingham

Back in the summer, Wokingham Borough Council urged local residents to register on the electoral roll this autumn to safeguard their right to vote.

The Wokingham plea came during the annual canvass, which takes place between September and November, when the borough council delivered electoral registration forms to 61,700 households in the Wokingham Borough. And this year’s annual canvass was a massive success with almost 96 per cent (95.7 per cent) of households returning their forms.

The Wokingham register will be published on December 1, and it lists everyone who is eligible to vote at elections. Anyone who is not registered cannot vote. The register is also 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.

This year, Wokingham residents had the opportunity to register by telephone, by returning the completed form through the post or via the internet. And in line with legislation about registering for elections, the borough council also sent canvassers to properties who had not responded to the first two forms. Some 61 canvassers, who had all received special training, visited approximately 10,000 households in the borough at the start of November making it the most successful canvass ever.

Alison Wood, Wokingham electoral services manager, said: “This year the council has seen a record number of households returning their electoral registration forms. If residents aren’t on the electoral roll, they will miss out on the chance to have their say on how the country is run and how services in the Wokingham Borough are provided, which is why we sent a clear message to them to register their vote.

“I would like to thank everyone who took the time to complete the form, and in particular to the canvassers who earlier this month ensured that as many local residents as possible took part in this canvass.”

The Wokingham electoral registration forms are used to compile the 2010 electoral register, and only people listed on the register will be entitled to vote in local and general elections and referendums between December 1, 2009 and November 30, 2010. The register is also revised monthly between December and September, so if people move house or find they are not on the register, they should contact electoral services by telephoning (0118) 974 6522 or 974 6523 in order for their details to be added.

Wokingham Borough Council