Council urges electoral registration form returns

Archived press release

Date Published: 02/10/09

Polling station

Aylesbury Vale District Council is urging residents to return their electoral registration forms as soon as possible to enable them to vote in future elections.

Over 71,000 registration forms were delivered to all homes at the end of August, but so far around 24,000 households have failed to register. Reminders have just been sent out to those who have not replied.

It is a legal requirement to return electoral registration forms to the council, and those who fail to do so can face up to a £1,000 fine.

Four Aylesbury Vale residents who refused to return their electoral registration forms last year were fined recently. AVDC took action when the residents refused to provide information to canvassers who made a personal visit to help them complete the form.

There are a number of ways to respond to the form including a freephone telephone number, online or text for those households who have no changes to make to the information on their form. Amendments must be made by returning the form in the post. Texts will be charged at the service providers’ normal rate.

Full instructions to help residents register their information are provided with the registration forms. The new register will be published on 1 December.

However, if responses have still not been received by 16 October, council officials will have to visit individual households to check if information currently held on the electoral register is correct, causing unnecessary expense to the taxpayer.

Councillor John Cartwright, Leader of the Council, said: “Council officials will be visiting all non-registered households over the coming weeks and we do urge people to provide the required information.

“It is not too late to register and this will prevent them from receiving a visit from one of our canvassers. People can respond by post, freephone, internet or by SMS text and all of these details appear on the registration form.

“Although the register is compiled for election purposes and we know that there will be a General Election between now and June next year, householders should remember that failure to register could have wider implications for them.

For example, the register is also used by other organisations such as banks, building societies and mobile telephone companies, and by not registering people may affect their chances of obtaining credit.”

For further information about registering to vote, go to www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/registration or call 01296 585807.