Each year the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) must conduct an annual canvass to ensure the electoral register is accurate and complete. This will normally start in July and end on the 01 December.
How does the annual canvass work?
Step 1: Data matching
- The Electoral Register is sent securely to the Department of Working Pensions (DWP) database to be matched in June. Electors' names and address will be matched against National Insurance details and the information held by the DWP. In addition to this an ERO has the discretion to use local data (e.g. Council Tax records) to perform a matching exercise as well.
- If all the registered people at a property can be matched with either of these databases the property will be sent down Route 1 canvass.
- If there are any people at a property that can not be matched the property will be sent down Route 2 canvass.
- Care homes, nursing homes and all other properties that have a responsible person i.e. a duty manager will be sent down Route 3 canvass.
Step 2: Routes of communication
Route 1
- If we hold an email address for you we will send you an email to ask you to confirm that our details are correct. If you need to submit a change you will be able to do this as well.
- Within the email there will be a web address to access your property details - www.folkestone-hythe.gov.uk/respond (this will take you to our supplier's secure website)
- You will also receive two security codes in the email that are used as a log in to identify your property.
- After logging in you will be able to confirm or change the details we hold for that property.
- If we do not hold an email address for you, or we do not receive a response from that email, we will send the property a form which will have the elector details listed on it. If they are correct you do not need to do anything more, if you would like to add or remove someone from the property, go to the website address and use the security codes on the form to log in and complete that change.
Route 2
- We will send a form to the property through the post which will have elector details listed on it (if we are aware of them). A blank form will be sent if the property is listed as empty.
- We need a response from the occupiers that receive this form even if there are no changes to report.
- If you would like to add or remove someone's name from the property, go to the website address on the form and use the security codes to log in and complete that change.
- If you do not wish to respond online and you have no changes to submit you can call 0800 066 8526 for the automated telephone service, you can also post this form back to us addressed to Electoral Registration Officer, Civic Centre, Castle Hill Avenue, Folkestone CT20 2QY.
- If we do not receive a response from the forms we send we will make every attempt to get a response from you, this may be via reminder forms, the telephone or a visit to your property.
Route 3
- Care managers or duty managers will receive a letter with a list of those registered at the address.
- If you do not wish to respond online and you have no changes to submit you can call 0800 066 8526 for the automated telephone service, you can also post this form back to us addressed to Electoral Registration Officer, Civic Centre, Castle Hill Avenue, Folkestone CT20 2QY.
- If we do not receive a response from the forms we send we will make every attempt to get a response from you, this may be via reminder forms, the telephone or a visit to your property.
Canvassing properties
Households that haven't responded yet (that need to) will be telephoned or visited by a council representative from October.
Our canvassers will say their name and reason for calling, or have photo ID. We encourage residents to check this before giving out any information. They will step back from the door and keep a distance.
Being correctly registered means you can take part in any upcoming elections and it also improves your credit score. It only takes a couple of minutes to respond.