Households across Brighton & Hove are being asked to spend a minute or two making sure that they are eligible to vote.
Brighton & Hove City Council’s electoral services team is sending out forms over the next couple of weeks letting people know what information is already on the electoral register for people living at their address.
Residents are being asked to check that it’s correct – and if it’s not to give the council the correct information.
You can reply online, by telephone, by text message or simply return the form in the pre-paid envelope.
The aim is to ensure that the electoral register is up to date and to identify any residents who are not registered so that they can be encouraged to do so.
The council’s electoral services manager, Claire Wardle, said: “You cannot vote if you are not registered.
“To make sure you can have your say in any elections next year, simply check the form when it arrives and return it to us as quickly as possible.
“It should only take you a minute or two.
“With Police and Crime Commissioner elections taking place across Sussex in May 2016, this is a chance for residents to make sure that it will be easy for them to take part.
“If you’re not currently registered, please reply and we’ll send you further information explaining how to do this.
“Or you can simply go online to apply to register at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote
“It’s particularly important for anyone who has moved address recently to check whether they are registered.
“Research indicates that nationally recent home movers are far less likely to be registered than those that have lived at the same address for a long time.
“The same research indicates that whilst almost 95% of outright home owners are registered, this is the case for only 63% of private renters.”
If you have any questions about registering to vote, please:
- Email electors@brighton-hove.gov.uk
- Phone the council’s electoral services team on 01273 291999, or
- Write to Electoral Services, Town Hall, Brighton, BN1 1JA.