Council Officers To Knock On Voters Doors

Wrexham residents who have not already registered to vote this year can expect a knock on the door over the next few weeks from council officers.

The council has a duty to conduct an annual canvass of all residential properties in their registration area to find out the persons who are for the first time being entitled to be or remain registered at an address.

The law also requires the Electoral Registration Officer to publish the new register on the 1 December in the year of the canvass and also requires them to issue reminders and undertake such house to house enquiries as they see fit in order to prepare an accurate register.

Canvassers with ID cards and a photograph have been visiting properties and anyone who still has their form is urged to return it as soon as possible to save a visit.

In some cases the canvasser will just be confirming information the council already has and will only require a signature from the householder. Canvassers may call on a weekend or a Sunday to make sure they catch the householder in.

The council previously sent out forms to more than 59,000 homes across the county borough in August asking residents to fill them in and return them.

Reminders have already been sent to those homes that have not returned the form but there are still around 14,000 forms outstanding across Wrexham.

The law requires that electoral registration staff must now visit properties that do not return a form with each visit costing council tax payers approximately £2.

It’s important that residents are on the electoral register to have their say, especially as a number of polls will be held next year, including County Borough and Community elections in May 2012 and the first elections to elect a Police and Crime Commissioner will be held in November 2012.

Councillor Ron Davies, Leader of the Council said: “Registering to vote is the only way you can have a direct impact on who runs both the council and government.

“I urge all residents to register using the forms sent recently and save the council money, or with the help of the canvassers who will be knocking on your door soon.

“Our canvassers will be carrying full identification and for your safety, please make sure you ask to see this first.”

There are a number of ways to respond to the form including a freephone telephone number, online or text for those households who have no changes to make to the information on their form.

Amendments must be made by returning the form in the post.

Full instructions to help residents register their information are provided with the registration forms and the new register will be published on 1 December.