Updating the electoral register – the annual canvass

The annual canvass

We contact every household in the borough to check who lives there and who is eligible to vote.

We’ll contact you by email first if we have your email address. If we do not hear from you, or we don’t have your email address, we’ll send you a paper form in the post.

Emails

If we have your email address, we may send you an email asking you to update or confirm your household details.

If you provided your email address when you registered to vote, we can use it for electoral purposes.

The email will:

• include your two security codes
• be sent by Electoral Services – Lewisham Council
• come from electoral.services.lewisham.council@notifications.service.gov.uk

If you respond to the email, you don’t need to return a paper form.

Paper forms

We send two types of canvass form:

• some forms must be completed and returned
• others only need to be returned if the details shown are incorrect or have changed.

Your form will explain what you need to do.

What you need to do

One person in your household must check and confirm the details of anyone aged 16 or over who live at the property.

Please:

• check all details are correct
• add anyone who is missing
• remove anyone who has moved out
• confirm the details even if there are no changes
• respond as soon as possible

How to return the form

You can respond:

• online
• by post

If there are no changes, you can also:

• text 80212
• call 0800 884 0701

Responding promptly helps us to reduce printing, postage and canvassing costs, allowing us to spend more money on other vital council services.

We will usually send forms out in August and will issue reminders if needed. The online, phone and text responses are available until 30 November.

If you don’t return the form

Every property is legally required to return a form.

If you don’t return the form:

• we may send reminder forms
• a canvasser may call you or visit your property
• your name may be removed from the electoral register
• you may be fined

If your name is removed from the electoral register, you won’t be able to vote, and it could affect your credit rating.

Need a replacement form?

Email electoral.services@lewisham.gov.uk or call 020 8314 6086 to request a new form.