The annual canvass is the process of updating the electoral register. Every year, we must ensure that our register is as complete and accurate as it should be. This process usually takes place between July and November.
By law, we must send a Household Enquiry Form to every residential property within Hertsmere. These forms may be different depending on the response we need from each property. As a result, your neighbours may receive different communications than you do.
Hertsmere Borough Council will be using different types of canvass communications;
- text
- posted enquiry form
- telephone canvass
- household visit
The best thing to do is to respond as soon as you can to avoid further canvass enquiries.
If you have a query or need further information, please contact the registration team by emailing elections@hertsmere.gov.uk or call 020 8207 7481
Canvass FAQ's
The best way to respond is online by following the following website;
First, you will need both parts of your security code and your postcode. You can check and amend the details of your household by following the directions on the webpage.
NOTE: The annual canvass refers to the household as a whole. If an elector is added or amended on the canvass response, you can add basic details on their behalf but only they can input full details. Once the response has been processed, we will send all additional electors an invitation to register, which they must complete themselves.
The best way to respond is online by following the below website, even if you have received a physical form;www.elecreg.co.uk/hertsmere
The form will detail what you need to do next however, there are different forms to be aware of;
- CF (canvass form), You must respond to a CF form so Electoral Services know that your details are still correct and so they do not send you any further forms.
- CCA (canvass communication A) this letter is for households where we think the information may still be the same. If you have checked and the form is correct, then you do not need to respond.
- CCB (canvass communication B) this letter is sent to households where we believe there are changes. Even if there are no changes you must respond to this communication following the instructions given.
Please only respond via post if you cannot use the response website, to avoid receiving a call or house visit from a member of our canvass team.
Due to the process of our annual canvass, we may be informed that you no longer live at the property.
We legally have to write to you at your registered household to confirm whether the household response we received was correct or not. If we have not heard from you, the system processes a removal of registration.
If you believe you have received a letter by mistake, please email elections@hertsmere.gov.uk with your full current address and your full name.
We will be happy to correct any registration errors.
If you have provided your email or mobile number in the past, we are able to send you direct communication to process your canvass response as quickly as possible.
The text message will come from "Elections" and the email will come from the following address;
electoral.services.hertsmere.borough.council@notifications.service.gov.uk
The canvass communication will advise you to respond on the response website;
To add an elector, simply follow the instructions on the canvass form or response website to add them.
NOTE: you can only add full details if you are the missing elector, otherwise you must only add the basic details. Once we have processed you canvass response, we will send an invitation to register form that must be completed by the new elector.
You can check if you are eligible by following the below link;
www.gov.uk/elections-in-the-uk
If your household is ineligible, it is likely that your canvass form will be blank. However, Electoral Services still need a response from you to confirm that you are still resident (even though you cannot register) and that there are no new people to add. You do not need to include your names on the form, just tick the box in Section 2, enter your nationality and sign the form.
The annual canvass is the process of updating the electoral register. Therefore, the canvass response only needs to include those that are eligible to vote or will be soon. (i.e. 17 year olds can be added to the canvass response but won't appear on the register until they are eligible.)
You can check if you are eligible by following the below link;
If you have moved out of Hertsmere but have not updated your electoral registration at your new property, you will still receive canvass communications.
You will need to make the elections team aware that you no longer live at the address and update your electoral registration.
You can update your registration by following this link to the government website;
