Don’t lose your vote - Forest of Dean residents urged to check voter registration details
Residents across the Forest of Dean are being reminded to check their voter registration details to ensure they don’t miss out on having their say in future elections.
Forest of Dean District Council is carrying out its annual canvass to update the electoral register. This process helps identify anyone at risk of losing their right to vote and ensures that everyone eligible is properly registered.
Nigel Brinn, CEO at Forest of Dean District Council and Electoral Registration Officer, said:
“Maintaining an accurate electoral register is a vital part of our democratic process, and the annual canvass plays a key role in ensuring that. It’s important that residents take a few moments to check and respond to any information our Electoral Services team send out.
“It’s not just about making sure your own vote counts, it’s about ensuring that everyone eligible in your household is registered. If you're not currently registered, your name won’t appear in our communications - so it’s vital to check. Don’t forget to include any 16 or 17 year olds living at your address when responding.
“Your voice matters in local and national decisions and being registered is the first step in having your say.”
Research by the Electoral Commission shows that just 40% of people who moved home in the past year are registered to vote, compared to 95% of those who have lived at the same address for 16 years or more.
For more information on the annual canvass and how to respond, visit: www.fdean.gov.uk/annualcanvass
Contact Information
Forest of Dean Communications Team
Notes to editors
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.
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.
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.
To be eligible to register to vote a person must be:
- aged 16 or over (a person may register to vote at 16, but may not vote until they are 18)
- a British or qualifying Commonwealth citizen who has leave to enter and remain in the UK or does not require such leave.
- a citizen of the Republic of Ireland or other European Union (EU) member state
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.
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.
The changes in voting rights for EU nationals will not affect voters from Cyprus, Malta and Ireland.
Full details of the Electoral Commission’s research on the electoral registers can be found on its website - https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/research-reports-and-data