Voter registration forms will soon be dropping through letterboxes across the Lancaster district and people are being urged to return them as soon as possible.
Lancaster City Council staff will be sending forms to households over the coming months to compile the electoral register.
Daphne Snelson, Lancaster City Council’s elections manager, said: “Registering to vote is very simple. All you have to do is update the annual canvass form with the details of everyone in your household who is eligible to vote and return it to us as soon as possible. If your details haven’t changed it’s even easier because you can just confirm the details by text, phone or e-mail.
“It’s vital that people register their details every year because an election could be called at any time, and if they aren’t on the register they won’t be able to make their voice heard.”
This year it’s more important than ever to register early – in November voters will go to the polls to elect a Police and Crime Commissioner for Lancashire and the annual canvass has been brought forward as a result.
As well as allowing people to vote, the electoral register is used by credit rating agencies when people apply for mobile phones, loans and mortgages. If people don’t respond to the canvass then they could find their credit ratings are affected.
Anyone who does not register will receive a visit from one of the council’s teams of canvassers so it’s easier, and less time-consuming overall, to respond when the form comes through the letterbox.
• For more information telephone the elections helpline on 01524 582905 or visit www.lancaster.gov.uk/elections