If changes need to be made to the information on the form, then the form must be returned by post.

Transcription

1 2011 REGISTER OF ELECTORS ANNUAL CANVASS The annual canvass forms for the register of electors are sent out each Autumn to gather the up to date occupier details for each residential property in South Somerset. We have to ascertain the occupiers as at 15 th October. The revised register of electors will then be published on 1 st December. We are looking for all occupiers aged 16 or over although of course only those aged 18 on polling day may vote. The forms have the names of the people currently registered pre-printed on them. If all of the details on the form are correct then the householder can either: simply just sign the form and return it in the envelope provided or use the automated telephone number, text number or the internet to confirm their registration. At the top of each form is the security code for using the telephone systems and the internet. These methods can also be used to order postal vote applications and the caller will be given the option to do this when calling the automated number or logging on. If changes need to be made to the information on the form, then the form must be returned by post. Below are the most frequently asked questions by members of the public at canvass time along with suggested answers: 1. The form has the previous occupiers names on it Cross through the names of the previous occupiers and add the names of all occupiers aged 16 and over in the spaces below 2. My name has changed or is spelt incorrectly Cross through the name and clearly write the correct name next to it 3. Why is there already a tick in column v? This is because last year you opted out of the edited register. If the box is ticked this means that your name and address will not be included in the version of the register that can be purchased by anyone. If you do not want to opt-out from that version of the register then cross out the tick or leave the box blank 4. There is a tick in the Postal Vote column does this mean that I already have a postal vote? Yes 5. All the details on my form are correct Then all you have to do is either sign and return the form using the envelope provided or use the automated telephone number or internet to confirm your registration 6. One of the names listed has left/died Cross through the name then sign and return the form

2 7. My son/daughter is a student at university and is away Add their name to the form or leave it on the form if already registered. Students may register both at home and a college/university address but may only vote once at the same election 8. I can t get through on the automated phone line or web address Don t worry, rather than spend more time trying, just complete the form and return it in the post. 9. I haven t got a return envelope Contact the Elections office and one will be posted to you. 10. I might be moving before 15 th October If you re not sure return the form now and then ring us when you move if it is before 15 th October. 11. I m definitely moving before 15 th October Leave the form at the property for the incoming people. You will need to complete the form at your new address. If there is no form at the new address then ring us so that we can send one. If you are moving to a different council area then you need to contact your new council to register 12. What is the edited register and why am I being asked if I want to opt out of it does this mean I wont be able to vote? This doesn t mean that you won t be able to vote as everyone gets listed on the voting register. The edited register is a version of the register that can be sold to anyone that wishes to have it. If you do not want your details to be sold on then tick the edited register column 13. I/my spouse is in the armed forces You can either add their name to the form in the usual way or complete a service declaration (this is just another way of registering using a separate form and makes no difference to the voting rights). If a member of the armed forces is already registered as a service voter their name will not be preprinted on the form if in doubt add the name to the form and we will work it out in the office when inputting 14. I m not sure if I registered correctly on the phone/internet You will have received the message your registration is now complete if the registration has gone through. Try again and if in doubt complete the form. 15. The name of my house has changed or some other part of the address is incorrect Make the correction in the address part of the form and we will amend it. 16. A form has been re-directed to me from my previous address Please inform the Elections Office and they will send another form to your previous address. If you have the names of the new occupiers of the old address that would be useful as we can send a personally addressed form to them. 17. My child s name is on the form and they are under 16 Cross through the name, it must have been put on the form last year in error.

3 18. I no longer wish to vote by post Cross out the pre-printed tick and sign and return the form. We will amend the register accordingly. 19. I will be moving after 15 th October Complete the form and contact us when moved with new address details so that we can then send rolling registration forms. 20. Do I have to use the phone or internet to register No. 21. The phone system or internet doesn t give me the option to add or delete names These methods of registering can only be used if all the details on the form are correct. You will need to complete and return the form 22. Can I just give you the information over the phone now No, we must have a signed form or a telephone/internet registration 23. Why have you sent the form so long before the 15 th October We have over 72,000 properties to canvass and there would not be time to canvass the whole area around 15 th October in time to produce a new register on 1 st December. Most householders will be able to confidently say who will be in the property as at 15 th October and if things do change after your form has been returned then we can send a new form 24. The occupier(s) are foreign nationals other than Commonwealth or European Union citizens Their name should not be added to the form complete section B of the form 25. The form has been sent to a business address Tick the box for Business Premises in section B of the form and we will remove the property from the database 26. Caller not sure if they qualify due to their nationality If they are not a European union citizen or a commonwealth citizen then they should not be added to the form. If still in doubt add name making sure that nationality column is completed. Attached is a list of all qualifying countries. 27. I made a mistake using the telephone or internet Then complete the form and this will supersede the phone or internet 28. It s after 15 th October, is it too late to return the form? No, as long as the information is correct as at 15 th October then return the form 29. I ve lost my form Ring the Elections Office and we will send you a new one 30. I have received a reminder but I recently returned a form Check with the Elections Office to see if we have received it. If not, you will need to complete and return the reminder

4 31. Should I register someone at my own address even though they now live in a Nursing/Residential home? No, the Nursing and Residential homes have all been sent forms to register all residents at those premises 32. What is the freephone number for the automated service? What is the web address for registering online? I am registered at an address in a different council area. Should/can I also register here? You don t have to but you can if you wish to vote in local elections in both areas. You are only eligible to vote in a general election in one of the areas. Qualifying Nationalities Commonwealth Countries Antigua & Barbuda Australia The Bahamas Bangladesh Barbados Belize Botswana Brunei Canada Cameroon Cyprus Dominica Fiji The Gambia Ghana Grenada Guyana India Jamaica Kenya Kiribati Lesotho Malawi Malaysia Maldives Malta Mauritius Mozambique Namibia Nauru New Zealand Nigeria Pakistan Papua New Guinea St Christopher & Nevis St Lucia St Vincent & the Grenadines Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Solomon South Africa Sri Lanka Swaziland Tanzania Tonga Trinidad & Tobago Tuvalu United Kingdom Uganda Vanuatu Western Samoa Zambia Zimbabwe British Dependent Territories Anguilla Bermuda British Antarctic Territory British Indian Ocean Territory British Virgin Cayman Falkland Gibraltar Monserrat Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie & Oeno St Helena (including Ascension & Tristan da Cunha) Turks & Caicos

5 European Union countries Austria Belgium Bulgaria Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Italy Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg The Netherlands Poland Portugal Romania Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden