Angus residents asked to keep voter details current

Voter registration details should be kept up to date to allow particiapation in elections.

And the annual canvass is an important opportunity for residents to make sure that they can take part in future elections.

The Electoral Registration Officer has already written to households across Angus and Tayside to confirm whether the information held about the registered electors in the property is correct, or to provide updated information.

For those households who have been asked to respond, there will be instructions in the letters already sent on how they may provide details of any changes.

However, if these households failed to respond then an employee of the Electoral Registration Officer will be obliged to visit these households over the next few weeks to ask for the details to be provided.

Roy Christie, electoral registration officer for Angus Council, said: “Residents are advised to keep an eye out for messages from the Electoral Registration Officer in order to ensure we have the correct details on the electoral register for every address, so that you are able to vote in forthcoming elections.

You might not have been able to vote before, but with the extension of voting rights you may be able to vote now – but only if you are registered”.

“If you’re not currently registered, the easiest way to do so is online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.”

Recent home movers in particular are urged to check their details. Electoral Commission research has found that they 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.

Andy O’Neill, Head of the Electoral Commission in Scotland, 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 Electoral Registration Officer on this year’s canvass. If you are not registered to vote, make sure you provide the necessary information to your Electoral Registration Officer when asked and register to vote online ”

Any residents who have any questions can contact their local registration team at Angus on 01307 499910.