Households in Barnet will soon be receiving a Household Enquiry Form (HEF) asking them to check whether information we currently hold on the electoral register is correct as part of Barnet’s annual voter registration canvass.
The aim of the Household Enquiry Form is to make sure the electoral register for those living at each address is up to date and to identify any residents who are not registered so that they can be encouraged to do so.
With elections for the Mayor of London and London Assembly members in May 2016, the canvass is an opportunity for residents to make sure that when the elections take place they can take part.
Andrew Travers, Electoral Registration Officer at Barnet Council, said: “Anyone that wants to vote must be registered. To make sure you are able to have your say at the elections next year, simply check the Household Enquiry Form when it arrives and respond to it as promptly as possible.”
Anyone who is not currently registered can register online.
It’s particularly important that anyone who has moved address recently looks out for the Household Enquiry Form and checks whether they are registered.
Research by the independent Electoral Commission shows that recent home movers are less likely to be registered than those who have lived at the same address for a long time.
The research showed that 94 per cent of people who have been at their property for more than 16 years will be registered compared to 40 per cent of people who have lived at an address for less than one year.
The same research indicates that whilst almost 95 per cent of outright home owners are registered, this is the case for only 63 per cent of private renters.
Kay Jenkins, Head of English regions at the Electoral Commission, said: “The annual canvass is an opportunity for people to easily check whether they’re registered. It’s essential for a healthy democracy that everyone who is entitled to vote is able to, and for those who need to register it is now easier than ever with the online system of registration.”
“If you have changed address in the last year, it’s particularly likely that you will need to register at your new address, so check the form as soon as it arrives.”
Any residents who have any questions can contact the elections team by email or visit the council website.