The Annual Canvass

• Background
• If you don't register
• How to register
  • Register by freephone or internet
  • Register by text (SMS)
  • Returning the form by post

Background

We are required by law to conduct an annual canvass of all the properties in the Torbay area. There are over 62,000 residential properties within Torbay. The registration form enables us to maintain the Electoral Register and holds the names of all those eligible to vote within Torbay.

The form is addressed to the occupier and is usually sent out in August. To ensure we gather as much information as possible we send out further reminder forms in September and October. At the end of October personal canvassers are sent to those properties who have not responded.

If you don't register

You and other eligible people in your household may lose their right to vote in Parliamentary, European and local government elections and referendums.

This could affect your credit rating, which means you may have problems applying for a loan or mortgage, bank or building society account, mobile phone contract, store finance or a catalogue.

Please open the envelope and reply as soon as possible as this will avoid a reminder form being sent out.

Reminders cost the borough money.

How to register

Following its introduction in 2004 and 2005 respectively, nearly 50000 households in Torbay have returned their Electoral Registration form via the telephone or internet response service. For the first time this year, if there are no changes to your details you will be able to register your form by text message.

If there have been no changes  to the details on the enclosed canvass form and the details will remain unchanged on 15 October 2008, you will be able to return the details on your form via the telephone or online, simply follow the instructions when prompted.

The internet address and telephone number are given on your canvass form together with your unique security code which you will need in order to register Both services are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for the duration of the canvass.

• All the names on the form are correct, and:
• There are no changes other than excluding household members from the freely available version of the register, known as the edited (saleable)register. You must ask each elector their preference before registering.

Visit www.registerbyinternet.com/torbay to register online.

Freephone: - Dial 0800 197 8608. Follow the instructions when prompted.

If the details on the form have changed in any way, you must return the form in the enveloped provided.  You will not be able to register any changes via telephone or internet.

Register by text (SMS) if:

• All the names on the form are correct

(Please note that you will not be able to change preferences relating to the edited (saleable)register with this service and must use either the freephone or internet service if you wish to do this)

• You wish to make any changes
• You wish to add or remove residents

Please make any necessary amendments to your form, then sign and return it in the envelope provided.

Related Documents

To view any published Related Documents for this service you will require the appropriate software. To download this software please see our documents help page. All links to documents will open in a new window. To request documents and files in an alternative format please contact us using the contact information provided on this page.