Isles of Scilly residents are being urged to check their electoral registration details or risk losing their chance to vote on decisions that affect them.
The annual canvass allows the Council of the Isles of Scilly to keep the electoral register up to date, to identify who risks losing their voice at elections, and to encourage them to register before it’s too late.
Paul Masters, Electoral Registration Officer at the Council of the Isles of Scilly, said: “We’re getting in touch with every household in the islands to check we’ve got the right details on the electoral register. When you receive your letter, please follow the instructions to make sure you are able to have your say at future elections. If you’re not currently registered, your name will not appear in the letter we send. If you want to register, the easiest way is online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote, or we’ll send you information explaining how to do this in the post.”
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.
Melanie Davidson, Head of Support and Improvement at the Electoral Commission, said: “It’s really important that everyone who is eligible to vote is able to do so. We urge people to look out for updates from their local council on this year’s canvass. If you are not registered to vote, make sure you provide the necessary information to your local council when asked and register to vote online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.”
Information on registering to vote is available on the Electoral Commission website.
Residents with questions about their registration status can contact the electoral services team at elections@scilly.gov.uk or on 01720 424543.