Annual Canvass forms are sent to every household at the end of August so an accurate register can be published on 1 December. By law, the forms are addressed to 'The Occupier' of each property. Every eligible person aged 16 and over who is living at the property on 15 October must be listed on the register. The information pre-printed on the form is what is currently on the register except for the opt-out status of every elector. Please check that:

• All names are right and correctly spelt
• The nationality is correct for each person  

Important information about the edited register

The edited register is a list of names and addresses that we are required by law to sell. If you do not wish us to sell your personal details, you must tick the right hand column on the form that says 'tick here for personal details not to be sold'. After taking legal advice, we've been told that if you don't wish your personal details to be sold, you must tell us so every year by ticking the annual canvass form. If you have been opted out in the past but fail to tick the form, we will have no choice but to opt you back in again. Please ensure that you read all parts of the form and complete it carefully.

No changes to the information on the form

If there are no changes at all to make to the details on the form, you can register online or call freephone: 0800 197 8603 (24 hours.) You will need both parts of your security code, when prompted. Your telephone needs to have a 'star key', which looks like an asterisk, to use this method. You can also register by post. Please sign and date the form before you return it.

Changes to the information on the form

If you need to make any changes at all, you must correct, sign, date and return the form. This is the only time of year when it is possible to remove someone else from the register.

To make a change:

•  Correct any information which is wrong.
•  Cross through the names of anyone who is no longer resident at the address
• Add the names of anyone not included who is eligible to vote, as detailed on the Canvass form
•  Include 16 and 17 year olds if they will attain the age of 18 on or before 30 November 2011, but  not anyone younger

• Include each person's nationality

Returning the form (by 17 October)

Your daytime telephone number is very helpful if we have a query, but does not go on the register. Make sure you have signed and dated the form. This year there will be no red reminder form, only the first green form. This is to try and save Council Tax money. Please complete and return the form as soon as possible, but no later than 17 October. If your form is not received by this date, we will send a Canvasser to call at your property. If there is no response to the Annual Canvass form from a property for 2 years running, the electors there have to be removed from the register, so a reply is necessary. If an eligible voter is not on the register, it is not possible to vote in elections and it may aversely affect his/her credit rating.

More details

For more information about the Annual Canvass and how to respond to the form, read our Frequently asked questions document.