Keeping the Electoral Register up-to-date - Print version

How do you keep the electoral register up to date?

If you move address you should register to vote at your new address which can be done online [https://www.gov.uk/registertovote] or by emailing electoral.services@coventry.gov.uk [mailto:electoral.services@coventry.gov.uk] with the names of everyone who has moved into the property over the age of 16.

Each year we send a form to every household, asking residents to check if the information we hold is correct. We have to do this even if you have recently registered to vote, the house is empty, or you have just moved. This is so we can make sure everyone is registered to vote.

Why has a canvasser visited my address?

We are required by law to follow up:

• people we think haved moved into an address but aren't registered to vote
• addresses where we aren't sure who is living at the address and we need to find out - to encourage people to register to vote

Why have I received a calling card?

If you have received a card, this means that one of our canvassers has visited your address, but you were not available to speak to them. They will visit a second time to try again.

In the meantime, you can contact Electoral Services to respond to register to vote or respond to the communications.

If you have any concerns regarding a visit, please contact Electoral Services.

When will my credit record be updated?

The updated full register is published on 1 December each year.

Credit agencies are allowed by law to purchase the full published version of the register for credit checking purposes. There are a number of credit reference agencies in the country that buy our electoral registers.

Please keep in mind it can sometimes take a number of weeks after the new register has been published for the agencies to make their purchases across the county, but if you have any queries regarding your file or notice any inaccuracies on your credit report from any of these agencies, you will need to contact them directly as we are unable to assist.

Monthly updates

Credit agencies also receive monthly register updates. We send these on the first working day of each month.

Applications need to be received before a specific deadline each month to be included in that month's update. 

When a person registers to vote or updates their address, we write to them to explain when they will be added to the electoral register.