Council launches annual canvass encouraging voters to register
12th August 2020
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Eastbourne residents are being urged to make sure their electoral registration details are correct so that their voice is heard on decisions that affect them.
The annual canvass ensures that Eastbourne Borough Council keeps the electoral register updated, identifying any residents who are not registered, so that they can be encouraged to do so. You have to be registered to vote in future elections.
Councillor Colin Swansborough, Cabinet member for Place Services and Special Projects, said: "It's important that residents keep an eye out for messages from the council, so we can make sure we have the right details on the electoral register for every address in Eastbourne.
"If you are not currently registered, your name will not show on the communications you are sent and you need to follow the instructions on how to register."
People who have moved recently are particularly encouraged to look out for the voter registration messages from Eastbourne Borough Council and check the details.
Research by the Electoral Commission indicates that recent home movers are far less likely to be registered than those who have lived at the same address for a long time.
Across Great Britain, 92% of people who have been at their property for more than 16 years will be registered, compared to 36% of people who have lived at an address for less than one year.
Melanie Davidson, Head of Support and Improvement at the Electoral Commission, said: "It's really important that everyone who is entitled to vote is able to do so. Making sure you provide the necessary information to your local authority when it is needed will ensure the process runs smoothly."
