Annual Canvass

How to complete the 2023 household response canvass

We send a canvass form to all residential properties once a year. This is used to check who is eligible to register to vote. We then publish the revised electoral register on 1 December.

We'll be sending an initial email and paper forms in July. Please read it carefully. If we do not receive a response we will send you a reminder. If we do not receive a response to the reminder we are required to send a canvasser to visit the property.

Emails requesting that you respond to the electoral canvass online are sent from Ashford Electoral Services, Ashford Borough Council from the email address of vote@ashford.gov.uk.

We have to carry out the canvass by law so when you are contacted, then please respond as soon as possible. It will make sure the process runs smoothly. It also means there will be no need for additional contact.

Wherever possible, you should consider responding:

Online
By telephone
By text message

How to respond

Read the information in your letter or email carefully to check the information is correct and whether or not you need to respond.

It's quicker to respond using online or text options. You'll need your unique two part security code printed on the form.

Some properties only need to reply if there's a change. Your property form provides more information.

You can reply using the following methods:

Online.
By phone on 0800 197 9871 at any time. Enter your two part security codes when prompted.
By text or SMS to 80212. Type NO CHANGE in the message, followed by your security codes.
By post, making sure you complete the form fully. Please provide all of the information requested and ensure that you have signed the form.

What happens next

The form lists everyone currently registered to vote at the property. The information you provide is used to update the electoral register.

Completing and returning the form doesn't mean that you are registered to vote. This only informs us of the names of the people who should be on the electoral register at the property.

We will:

Send an 'Invitation to Register Form' to anyone that has been added to the property so that they can register to vote.
Write to anyone that has been removed from the property. This will be done to confirm they no longer live there.

Special category electors

Your name will not appear on the form sent to the property if you're a special category elector, such as a service voter or overseas elector.

About the Electoral Register

The Electoral Register is not published in the months of October or November during the annual Canvass. The revised register will be published on 1 December 2023. This is a statutory requirement.

If you have any questions about the form or your electoral registration, you can contact: