Annual Canvass

What is annual canvass?

Every year, we are required by law to conduct an annual canvass to ensure the electoral register is accurate and complete.   The purpose of the canvass is to identify everyone who should be on the electoral register. 

The way the annual canvass is carried out changed in 2020 following the introduction of new legislation by the Government. 

How will the canvass work?

Data matching

• The electoral register is securely data matched against Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) records. 
• The results of this data matching exercise determines whether the electors living in each property are likely to have changed or not.
• If the records show that the details for a property are unlikely to have changed, the property will follow the Route 1 canvass process.
• If there are people at a property that cannot be matched or the data matching process indicates that there may be a change to the information for a property, the property will follow the Route 2 canvass process.
• Care homes and nursing homes and all other properties that have a responsible person such as a duty manager, will follow the Route 3 canvass process. This will involve contact being made with the manager or other responsible person of the establishment.

What you need to do:

Canvass E-Communications (Route 1 only)

This year, we are contacting electors, where we hold an email address. We ask that you respond to the instructions provided by 28 July 2023, in order to reduce the amount of paper and postage.

A small number of electors may be under the age of 18 and we would encourage those who fall within this category to pass the communication to a responsible adult within the household to complete.

RESPONSE required

• Go online to www.householdresponse.com/boston to confirm your details.  It only takes a few minutes.

Canvass Communication A (CCA)

NO response required        

• If all information is correct and includes everyone eligible to register to vote.

RESPONSE required             

• If any information is incorrect, or if there are people eligible to register to vote at this address that are not included.
• Go online to www.householdresponse.com/boston to confirm any changes. You will need the two security numbers printed on the letter to complete the online form.

Canvass Form (CF)

You are legally required to respond to this form. The easiest way is online. It takes just a few minutes. RESPONSE Required.

All information is correct and includes everyone eligible to register to vote:

• Go online to www.householdresponse.com/boston to confirm the information is correct. You will need the two security numbers printed on the letter to complete the online form.
• Phone 0800 197 9871 to confirm that there are no changes. You will need the two security numbers printed on the letter to confirm by phone.
• Text NOCHANGE with your security code to 80212 (if nobody is eligible to vote include a reason after your security code e.g. empty, business, 2nd home, other).

Any information that is incorrect do the following:

• Go online to www.householdresponse.com/boston to confirm the changes. You will need the two security numbers printed on the letter to complete the online form.

What happens next?

If you tell us there are new people eligible to be registered, they will each need to register individually.  They can go online to register at  www.gov.uk/register-to-vote. If they do not apply online we will send an "invitation to register" to each person you have added.  Each person is required to provide their National Insurance number and date of birth when they apply to be registered.

If you tell us someone has moved away, we may need to send a further letter to each individual so that we have confirmation that they have moved away.  This is because we are required to have two pieces of evidence to remove someone from the electoral register.

If you tell us that someone has changed their name, we will send them a further letter to request a copy of their marriage or deed poll certificate to enable their name to be changed on the register.

Do I need to re-register each year?

Once you're registered you don't need to register again unless you change your address or name.  However you will receive a Canvass Communication every year, even if you are already registered.  This means we can ensure the register is kept up to date. 

What the law says

The law says that you must provide us information as part of the annual canvass.