Reminder to get on electoral register
Residents in the
Scarborough borough are being reminded to make sure they are on the
electoral register ahead of possible elections for Police and Crime
Commissioners in May next year.
Pre-printed canvass forms were delivered
last month to every residential property in the borough to enable
residents to check their electoral register details.
The council has to carry out an annual
canvass each year and it is a legal requirement for residents to
provide the information requested. If residents do not return their
forms or confirm their registration electronically they may find
that their names have been removed from the register and will be
unable to vote at parish, borough, county and general elections.
Residents who are not on the register of electors may also
experience difficulties obtaining credit or opening a bank
account.
If all the information on the canvass forms
is correct, residents can simply confirm their details by calling
the freephone number, printed on the canvass form, or use the
internet by using the security codes provided on the form. There is
also an opportunity for people to confirm their entry is correct
with a simple text message.
Anyone who wants to change their details
such as deleting the names of people who no longer live in the
property or adding the names of people who are now eligible to
vote, will need to cross the pre-printed names out, add their own
details, sign and date the form and send it back in the pre-paid
envelope.
Residents should remember to add the names
of any 16 or 17 year olds so that they are eligible to vote as soon
as they become 18. Young adults whose names are on the register of
electors will receive a birthday card and information booklet
encouraging them to take part in the democratic process when they
become 18.
Residents will also be asked if they mind
their details on the register being passed on to people who use the
list for commercial purposes. Residents who do not want their
details being passed on to third parties should tick the “opt out”
box on the form. People using the internet or telephone response
service will also be able to “opt out”.
A copy of the full register will
still be used by electoral services and by credit checking
agencies.
Failure to provide or refusing to provide
information is an offence and the council will take legal
proceedings against people who refuse to provide information to
canvassers. Prosecutions earlier this year resulted in seven
residents, who refused to provide the information during the 2010
canvass, being fined between £100 and £200.
Full details of how to fill in the
electoral registration form, including opting out of the edited
version which is used for commercial purposes, were included with
the form.
Anyone wanting help or advice to complete
their form should contact the Elections Office helpline, Mondays to
Friday between normal office hours (8.30am to 5pm) on telephone
numbers 01723 232309, 383545 or 232307.
A revised register of electors is published on 1 December each
year and copies are available for inspection at the council’s
Customer First Centres around the borough.