The annual canvass is an exercise that we are legally required to carry out each year and is designed to maintain the accuracy of the electoral register.

Each year we are required to contact every household within Telford & Wrekin to check whether we have the correct people registered to vote and to ask you to tell us of any changes. This year, the annual canvass started in mid-July and will continue until around early November.

This year, where we can, we will be using data and electronic communication, such as email and text messaging before sending a hard copy letter, to make the process simpler and more cost effective.

Our emails contain a link to the official webpage where you can register your response. They are genuine and they come from a recognised government domain. Voters are encouraged to check the sender details by clicking on the “From” field, official emails will not come from generic addresses like Gmail or Hotmail. It’s also worth checking the “To” field to ensure the message isn’t sent to multiple recipients, which can be a sign of a scam. If in doubt, visit the official government website directly rather than clicking on links.

The email is not spam and does require a response so that we do not contact you again. You can provide your response by following the instructions in the email. Only one person in your household needs to respond as the security codes can only be used once. Even if you have recently registered to vote, you might still be asked to confirm the accuracy of the information we hold.

The communication you receive will tell you if you do or do not need to respond.

If you are asked to respond, but we do not receive a response, we are legally required to continue our efforts to confirm the electoral information we hold about your address is correct. We use a variety of methods to ensure we receive as many responses as possible and so, if we do not receive a response to our initial email or letter you may receive a telephone call or one of our canvassers visiting your address to check the information we hold is correct.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

The email will come from electoral.services.telford.wrekin.council@notifications.service.gov.uk which is a recognised government domain. It will contain a link to the response webpage so you can start your response. It is safe to click the link in the email.

The email will also contain the Telford and Wrekin Council Logo and will be signed by the Electoral Registration Officer. If you receive something different to this and you think it may not be genuine please contact Electoral Services for confirmation. 

The online service and data you provide is secure. The website address you enter your details on is: https://www.householdresponse.com/telfordwrekin
This site is hosted by Civica Xpress who are accredited by the government. You can see their accreditation by searching for Civica Xpress on the GOV.UK Digital Marketplace.

Yes, you do. The purpose of the canvass communication is to find out if there have been any changes to who is living at your address and is about the whole household whereas registering to vote is an individual process.

So even though you are registered or have applied to register we still require confirmation that the information about your household is correct. If you have recently registered to vote and your name is not showing on your canvass form then you need to add it.

By law* we have to send a canvass communication every year in order to know who is eligible to register to vote at your address. The information you provide will allow us to amend any incorrect information such as removing anyone who has vacated the property and allow us to invite any new residents to register to vote.

* section 9D of the Representation of the People Act 1983, the Representation of the People (England and Wales) Regulations 2001 and The Representation of the People (Annual Canvass) (Amendment) Regulations 2019.

Full details and instructions will be provided on the communication sent to you. Some communications do not require a response but please read yours carefully and respond if asked to even if there are no changes to the information.

We are legally obliged to keep chasing you with reminders, followed eventually by a personal visit, which we are very keen to avoid.

If anyone listed on the form is no longer living at your address or it is not their main address then their name/s should be clearly crossed through on the form or you can remove their name using the web response.

You need to include the name and nationality of everyone aged 16 or over who is resident at the address and eligible to register to vote. If there are no eligible residents, you should say why this is the case.

No. The annual canvass is a household exercise. The communication to your household will show who is already registered to vote, so if you or anyone else over the age of 16 at the address are not listed then you are not currently registered. When completing a web response, the system will give you the opportunity to register to vote as well if you need to.

We send our information to the printers several weeks before the forms are posted so if you registered to vote within the last month then your name is unlikely to show on the canvass communication. It is probably a crossover of information but please call Electoral Services if you want confirmation.

You are invited to include your email address and phone number on the canvass form, but you do not have to. We will use this information only in connection with your registration, and it helps us to contact you if there is a problem.

Any new names provided on the form will be sent a form or a link via email to register to vote. Registering to vote is quick and easy online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

Anyone changing their name on the register will be sent a change of name form. You will be asked on this form to provide documentary evidence of your name change. A full list of documentary evidence to support your change of name can be found on the Electoral Commissions website: Documentary evidence to support a change of name | Electoral Commission.

Your name on the electoral register should be the same as on any official documents so please include your full name including any middle names.

If you cross through or mark someone to be removed on your annual canvass response, we will begin the removal process for that person.

We cannot remove somebody from the electoral register without two separate pieces of information stating that they are no longer at the address*, so we may write to that person individually to check if they are still resident. If no response is received within 14 days then they will be deleted from the register.

*information received to remove someone could come from new occupiers, family members, other council departments or Royal Mail returns to sender

Yes. The canvass communication is different to a registration form as it provides us with information on who lives in your household. The registration form is for you individually and once completed will enable you to officially register to vote. You should complete and return the registration form or register online.

Before the annual canvass begins, every property has to be matched against the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) database to see if our electoral register information is the same.

Properties may receive different instructions on their communication based on their match status, so please read yours very carefully and respond if required.

Not necessarily. If you have received a reminder within a week of completing your response, it is likely that the information has simply crossed over. We have to send our list of reminders to the printer a week before they go out in the post so this is unavoidable and a small number of people will receive an unnecessary reminder. If you would like to check that we have successfully received your response, please call Electoral Services.

As a student you can register to vote at both your term time and home address. This means that you will be able to vote if an election is called at short notice. If you register to vote at home and at your term time address you are able to vote at local elections at both addresses. It is a serious offence to vote twice at a national election such as a Parliamentary General Election or a national referendum.

You can find more information on registering to vote if you are a student on the Electoral Commission’s website. 

Having a second home doesn't necessarily mean that you can register there as well as at your permanent address. Registration at a second address is based on your residency.  Further information can be found on the Electoral Commission’s website.  

If you are registered to vote at two addresses, you are only allowed to vote once at a national election such as a UK Parliamentary General Election or a national referendum.

The format of a canvass communication is set by the Electoral Commission. It is addressed to The Occupier because anyone in the property can respond to the form on behalf of the household. If we address it to a particular resident and they subsequently move out, any paper communications would be returned undelivered.

If you have a disability or impairment that prevents you from completing the canvass form or registering to vote please contact us using one of the following methods:

  • Writing to: Electoral Services, Telford & Wrekin Council, Darby House, Lawn Central, Telford. TF3 4JA.
  • Or by phoning us on: 01952 383206
  • Or by emailing us at: registration@telford.gov.uk