Secure Your Vote by Registering this Autumn

Residents in South Bucks are being urged to safeguard their vote at election time by registering this autumn.
From the end of August until the end of November, an annual canvass of all the residential properties in South Bucks district takes place. This information is used to update the electoral register, which is then published on 1st December.

All households in the district will have received the annual canvas form from South Bucks District Council in August. It lists all the people currently on the electoral register for the address. Electors are asked to simply add anyone who should be registered and wasn't on the list and cross out anyone who no longer lives at the address. The form should be signed and returned to the council. Householders can use the telephone, internet or text registration service if there is no change to their details.

Canvassers will be calling on all householders who haven't already responded to the canvass by Friday 1st October.

Kully Tumber, South Bucks District Council's Deputy Registration Officer, said, "Despite popular belief, you aren't automatically registered if you pay council tax or if you have registered previously. If you aren't on the electoral roll, you won’t be able to vote at Local, Parliamentary and European elections.” You may also have trouble:

• getting credit
• opening a bank account
• getting a mobile phone contract
• applying for a loan or mortgage

It is a legal requirement that you return a registration form each year. Refusal to register could result in a fine of up to £1000 and you may be removed from the register. Even if you are registered to vote, you are obliged to return a completed canvass form annually.

Registering to vote is very simple. Either fill in the form that will have come through your door or contact us at the council if you haven't received one. Once you've filled in the form, make sure you send it to us as soon as possible to secure your vote.

The form should include all those living in your household on 15 October 2010. However, you do not have to wait until then to complete and return the form.

To register online visit www.registerbyinternet.com/sbdc or call the Elections office on 01895 837205.