The annual canvass process is beginning in Boston Borough

Boston Borough Council started the annual canvass on Wednesday 2 July by distributing around 20,000 emails to residents that we hold email addresses for.

The annual canvass is a yearly process conducted by the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) and supported by local councils. The ERO has a legal requirement to conduct the annual canvass, which ensures the electoral register is accurate and complete.

The law says that residents must provide the Council with information as part of the annual canvass, if they are cotnacted.

Residents are encouraged to check their emails to see if they have received an email from elreg@boston.gov.uk, regarding the annual canvass process.

It is essential that we receive a response from each household that receives at least one annual canvass email. This is to allow the ERO to keep the electoral register up to date, ensuring everyone who is eligible maintains their right to vote in any upcoming elections.

Being on the electoral register also provides residents with an increased credit score, through validating their identity.

The deadline for residents to respond to the annual canvass email is Monday 7 July.

If we do not have an email address recorded for any residents of a household, or if we do not receive a response to our email, a physical form will instead be delivered by hand later in the year.

Forms will be hand-delivered by our canvassers starting from Friday 25 July. If necessary, a further reminder form will be distributed after Monday 1 September.

Andy Fisher, Electoral Registration Officer for Boston Borough Council, said: "The annual canvass is an essential yearly process which must be completed to keep the electoral register up to date.

"Please do respond to our email or form as soon as possible, to allow us to complete the annual canvass process as smoothly as possible, and to ensure you and anyone you live with maintains their right to vote in upcoming elections."

More information about the annual canvass and what Boston Borough Council will be doing this year can be found on our website: https://www.boston.gov.uk/article/24612/Annual-Canvass