If you’re not registered you can’t vote – register now @Epsomewellbc
6th August 2015
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The Annual Canvass for the 2016 Register of Electors has started and all Epsom & Ewell residents have started receiving though the post a household enquiry form (HEF) which replaces the old style canvass registration form. To vote in elections you need to be on the electoral register. 

The HEF form being sent to all households in the Borough, is not a voter registration form, it is just to collect the names of all eligible voters at each residential property in the Borough. 

The way we all register to vote changed to Individual Electoral Registration (IER) on 10 June 2014 and now each person who is eligible to vote is responsible for registering themselves. Registering is quick and simple and it will mean you have the right to vote at elections and could also improve your credit rating. 

Once the HEF form is returned, any new residents will then be sent an Invitation to Register form (ITR) which they can either complete and return by post or they can register online on the national voter registration website www.gov.uk/register-to-vote 

You are required by Law to provide the information requested in these forms even if you choose not to vote on polling day. There is no qualifying date for the new register so once you receive either a HEF and/or an ITR form, please complete and return as soon as possible. 

The deadline for the annual canvass for the 2016 Register of Electors is 20 November and the new register will be published on 1 December. If you miss this date you can still register as your details can be included on the next monthly update following 1 December. 

If you don't register not only will you not have a say at future elections and referendums, but you could be at risk of getting fined. If you do not complete and return a HEF form you can be fined up to £1000 for failing to make a return. If you are sent an ITR form you must register to vote or give a suitable reason why you should not be registered. You can be fined £80 for not making an application for registration and if you knowingly give false information on an ITR form you can receive an unlimited fine and/or up to six months in prison. 

For more information on the Annual canvass and guidance on completing the forms please visit the Elections & Electoral Registration/Annual Canvass 2015 section at www.epsom-ewell.gov.uk    

If you need more advice, please contact Electoral Services at the Town Hall, The Parade, Epsom Surrey, KT18 5BY Tel: 01372 732120 or 732152 or email: electoralservices@epsom-ewell.gov.uk


Information received from Epsom & Ewell Borough Council

 

  • Individual Electoral Registration (IER) has been introduced to try and prevent voter fraud. From 10 June 2014 everyone wanting to register has to provide their date of birth and National Insurance number (NI) when they register. To find out more about the changes go to www.gov.uk/yourvotematters 
  • To register to vote, one must be:
    • Aged 16 or over (people can register at 16, and vote at 18)
    • A British or qualifying Commonwealth citizens. This means Commonwealth citizens who have leave to enter or remain in the UK or do not require such leave.
    • A Citizen of the Republic of Ireland or other European Union (EU) member states. 
  • British citizens, Irish citizens and qualifying citizens of Commonwealth countries (including Cyprus and Malta) can vote in all elections. Citizens of other EU member states can vote in local government elections but cannot vote in UK Parliamentary elections. 
  • You can only vote if your name appears in the register of electors and you are aged 18 or over on polling day. Special provisions to register also apply to members of the UK armed forces serving abroad to allow them to vote. For more information, go to www.aboutmyvote.co.uk

 

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