Residents in Bath and North East Somerset are being warned not to lose their voice on decisions that affect them by making sure they are on the electoral register.
Bath & North East Somerset Council is beginning its annual canvass to ensure that the electoral register is complete and accurate, and is asking residents to look out for messages it will soon be sending out to check their details.
With Police and Crime Commissioner Elections and the West of England Combined Authority Mayoral Election taking place in Bath and North East Somerset in May 2021, this is an important opportunity for residents to make sure they can take part.
The annual canvass will identify any residents who are not registered so that they can be encouraged to do so and will then be able to take part in any future elections.
Will Godfrey, Chief Executive and Electoral Registration Officer at Bath & North East Somerset Council, said:
“It’s important that residents keep an eye out for messages from us so we can make sure we have the right details on the electoral register for every address in Bath and North East Somerset. To make sure you are able to have your say at the elections taking place next year, simply follow the instructions from the Electoral Registration Office which you will receive either by email or post in the coming weeks.
“If you’re not currently registered, your name will not appear in the messages we send. If you want to register, the easiest way is online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote, or we’ll send you an application to register to vote in the post.
“This year’s canvass, which we have to carry out by law, is taking place during a challenging public health situation. We are working to ensure that we take account of public health guidelines, including the continued importance of social distancing.”
People who have moved recently are especially encouraged to look out for the voter registration messages from Bath & North East Somerset Council and check the details, as recent home movers are far less likely to be registered than those who have lived at the same address for a long time. Across Great Britain, 92% of people who have been at their property for more than sixteen years will be registered, compared to 36% of people who have lived at an address for less than one year.
Find out more about the annual canvass and links to information about elections in our area by visiting www.bathnes.gov.uk/annual-canvass
More information about registering to vote can be found on the Electoral Commission website at https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter
Police and Crime Commissioners, and the West of England Combined Authority Mayor …
Are these elections, for publicly-funded posts Bath didn’t ask for and didn’t want, worth getting out of bed for?
Worth giving the manifestos a once over anyway, and considering voting for whoever pledges to spend Bath’s money in Bath rather than siphoning it off to Bristol.