Keeping the electoral register up-to-date

The Annual Canvass

Every year, we are required by law to contact every property in the city to ensure the electoral register is accurate and complete; we use updated information to publish a new Register of Electors on 1 December.

The purpose of the canvass is to:

• identify any newly eligible to vote residents
• remove those that have moved away or are no longer eligible to vote
• make sure the register is accurate for elections

You should include all eligible residents that live at the address on the form. This includes:

• those aged 16 or over
• British and Irish citizens
• qualifying EU citizens
• Commonwealth citizens who either have leave to remain in the UK or who do not require leave to remain in the UK

Responding to the annual canvass

You will receive a letter or email asking you to confirm or update the details for those living at the address. Only 1 person in the household is required to complete the annual canvass - if you own a property that is currently empty you must still complete the form.

All emails will be sent from electoral.services@york.gov.uk, have the subject 'City of York Council Annual Canvass' and will ask you to respond online through the City of York Council Online Response Service.

Instructions on how to respond and your unique security codes will be included in your email or letter.

It is very important that you read this letter carefully as it will indicate whether you are legally required to respond.

If a response is legally required, you must respond whether there are changes or no changes to report. Please respond as soon as possible.

If we do not receive a response by the date specified in your correspondence, we are required to remind you. This could include reminder letters or emails, a telephone call or a visit to your property.

If a response is not legally required, you only need to tell us of any changes to your household.

We strongly encourage you to respond online through the City of York Council Online Response Service if you can, this will help save the council money for other services.

Alternate methods of responding are included in your correspondence.

Reason for Receiving an Invitation to Register Form

An Invitation to Register Form (ITR) is sent out to all new residents who have been identified through the annual canvass. Completing the annual canvass form does not mean you are registered to vote.

The reason for sending an ITR is that the law requires residents to provide us with various information, including your National Insurance number and your date of birth, when registering to vote.

If you do not respond to the initial ITR, we're required to send reminders. If you think you shouldn't be registered, please let us know.

If you receive an ITR, you can also register to vote online.

Monthly updates

We update the register each month.

Applications need to be received before the deadline date to be included in the next monthly update. If you make your application after this date, you will be added to the register in the following month.

Also see

• Students registering to vote
• View or buy copies of the electoral register