HBC: Register to vote by 18th April 2016

Hyndburn Council is urging residents to make sure they register to vote, with the process to compile the Borough’s new electoral register well underway.

It’s all change this year, as the register is being put together under the new system of individual electoral registration. Canvassing staff have been going door to door right across Hyndburn to contact those who still haven’t returned the new household enquiry form.

“It’s really important that residents look out for the new forms and get them back to us as soon as possible” says Councillor Paul Cox, Deputy Leader of the Council. “We are aiming to make the electoral register as complete and accurate as possible. We don’t want people to lose the right to vote in the Council and Police & Crime Commissioner elections next year and it can be difficult to get credit if your name isn’t on the register.”

Registering to vote is now a two stage process following recent legislation intended to make the register more accurate and reduce the risk of electoral fraud. Under the new individual electoral registration system, which is being rolled out across the country this year, every household must complete a household enquiry form which tells the Council who lives at each address.

There are many ways to do this. The form can be posted back in the prepaid envelope supplied or completed online at www.elecreg.co.uk/hyndburn. Alternatively, if all the details on the form are correct, you can call 08082 841469 or text 07786 209369 to confirm, using the individual security codes printed on your form. The Council will then use the information supplied to send an individual registration form separately to each of the people living at your address.

“Registering to vote is a bit more complicated this year” says Councillor Cox, “but many people will be able to respond quickly and easily, either online or by phone or text message and the Council’s elections staff will be happy to answer your queries about the new system if you give them a call. Everyone’s vote really does matter, so we are urging residents to reply to the household enquiry forms as quickly as possible if they haven’t already done so.”