Don’t lose your voice! – residents in Dumfries and Galloway are urged to look out for their voter registration details in the post.
Local residents are being warned not to lose their voice on matters that affect them by completing and returning their annual canvass form to their local Electoral Registration Office as soon as possible.
The form ensures that Dumfries and Galloway Council can keep the electoral register up to date and identify any residents who are not registered, so that they can be encouraged to do so. This will mean that residents will be able take part in any future elections.
James Doig, Electoral Registration Officer at Dumfries & Galloway Council said: “It’s important that residents respond as soon as possible, so we can make sure we have the right details on the electoral register for every address in Dumfries and Galloway. Please check the form when it arrives and respond as soon as you can.
“If you’re not currently registered, your name will not appear on the form. If you want to register, the easiest way is online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote, or we’ll send you information in the post explaining how to do this. In any case, you will still need to complete the form and send it back to us.”
People who have moved address recently are particularly encouraged to keep an eye out for the form and check the details. Research by the independent Electoral Commission indicates that recent home movers are far less likely to be registered than those that have lived at the same address for a long time. Across Great Britain, 94% of people who have been at their property for more than sixteen years will be registered, compared to 40% of people who have lived at an address for less than one year.
Andy O’Neill, Head of the Electoral Commission, Scotland said:
“It’s really important that everyone who is entitled to vote is able to do so; checking the form that will arrive through the post is one of the easiest ways to find out if you are already registered. There’s lots of helpful information about registering to vote on our website www.yourvotematters.co.uk.”
Any residents who have any questions can contact their local registration team at Municipal Chambers, Buccleuch Street, Dumfries DG1 2AD. Please call them on 01387 260627 or email [email protected]
