Every residential property (around 72,000) on the Isle of Wight is being sent an Annual Enquiry Form as part of the annual check of the electoral register.
All councils, including the Isle of Wight Council, carry out this annual check known as the annual canvass. During the annual canvass, a form is sent to every household to check that the record of people registered to vote at that address is correct.
Every household is required to respond so that the Council can make sure the data it holds is correct and up-to-date. Even if someone in the property only recently registered to vote, the Council still need a response to the form.
The form allows you to advise the elections office about who lives at your address – and to add details of new residents or change information where residents have moved away. Any newly identified electors will then be sent a personalised electoral registration form, which they must complete in order to be registered to vote.
The updated information will ensure that everyone who is eligible to vote and has registered will be able to vote in any forthcoming elections or referendums.
The Isle of Wight Council are asking householders to respond to the enquiry form by 21st August. Completing and returning the form will also help save the cost of sending reminders or follow-up visits.
Residents also have the option of completing the form online, via www.householdresponse.com/iow. To use this secure website, you will need your postcode and the unique two-part security code that is printed on the form. Alternatively, if there are no changes at your household, you can telephone 0800 197 9871 to confirm this.
The enquiry form also allows an existing elector to request an application form to vote by post or proxy. If an elector already has a permanent postal or proxy vote then this will be indicated on the form.
Young adults who are 16 or 17 years of age should be included on the form, so our electoral registration team can send them a registration form to enable them to register and vote once they turn 18.
If your household has not received an enquiry form by early August, then contact the Electoral Services office at the Isle of Wight Council via email at [email protected] or telephone on 01983 823380.
