EXETER City Council will be carrying out door-to-door enquiries this month as part of a new electoral registration system.
This summer marked the launch of a new system of individual electoral registration.
In mid-July, 80 per cent of Exeter residents received a letter confirming that they had been successfully transferred to the new system.
The remaining 20 per cent, were sent a form asking for further information. These may, for example, be people who have recently moved or changed their name.
The council will now begin to make door-to-door enquires to follow up where these forms have not been returned, hereby ensuring that residents do not lose their right to vote.
Democratic Services Manager Jeff Chalk said: "The council is obliged by law to contact each person to ensure that all eligible electors have the right to vote.
"If a form isn't returned then we have to firstly, send reminder forms and then make a personal visit to that property.
"Obviously this is a costly exercise and people can help us reduce these costs by sending in their forms as quickly as possible."
Anyone can also register online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.
Electoral Registration Officer John Street added: "It is important that residents ensure that they will be able to participate in elections by being registered to vote.
"It's also worth remembering that the register is used by financial bodies in the process of granting credit, and as well as missing out on the opportunity to vote, an individual may, for example, find it difficult to open a bank account."
Anyone who hasn't received a form should contact the Electoral Services Office on 01392 265141.
A Parliamentary election is due to be held in May 2015.
On the same day there will be elections for 13 seats on the city council.
↧