What is the Annual Canvass ?
What is the annual canvass?
Each year the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) must conduct an annual canvass to ensure the Electoral Register is accurate and complete.
The 2026 Annual Canvass starts on 29 July 2026 and the revised electoral register will be published on 1 December 2026.
How does the new canvass work?
Electoral Register data is sent securely to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) database to be matched. Electors’ names and address were matched against National Insurance details and the information held by the DWP.
The results of the data match will determine how we contact you, and the response required for the annual canvass.
The communication methods
The letter or email you will receive will depend on whether or not records indicate that there has been a change in the registered voters living at their property – for instance, if a new person has moved into a property and registered there, that address will receive a different letter from a home whose occupants have remained the same since the last election.
Each letter explains if a response is required, and the methods detailing how to respond. It is very important that your letter is read carefully to ensure the information which we hold is accurate.
We are sending an email communication on Wednesday 29 July to all electors who we held an email address for asking households to respond by Tuesday 18 August. Properties where we did not receive a response to the email will receive a paper canvass form from Friday 4 September. Please carefully read the form to know if you are required to respond and if so, the deadline to do so.