Annual Canvass
Every year the Crown and Elections team, on behalf of the Electoral Registration Officer, need to check who lives at each address and update the records of who is eligible to vote and serve on a jury.
This is done by writing out to each household and asking for the details held to be checked and updated if required. The information collated is used to create the electoral register which is a record of eligible voters.
Not being registered to vote can affect a person’s credit reference history and result in an application for a mortgage, loan or mobile phone contract being refused.
It is a legal requirement to respond to the annual canvass, even if an individual chooses not to exercise their democratic right to vote.
The Annual Canvass usually begins on 1 January and you should expect to receive your Household Enquiry Form (HEF) shortly after.
This form contains the people we have registered at your property. You need to either confirm these details are correct or tell us about any changes.
The total number of HEF's sent during the 2019 Canvass was 42,662.
How to respond to your household enquiry form
All properties must respond to the HEF even if there is no change to the information. Please respond as soon as possible via online, telephone or SMS following the instructions on the HEF. An early response will avoid the need to send reminders.
Annual Canvass 2019 – The electronic response channels generated 12,997 'no change' & 'changes' responses via all channels, broken down as follows:
- Telephone – 1,720
- Web – 9,754
- Text - 1,523
If you cannot use one of these automated options you can post your form back to us in the pre-paid envelope provided.
The total number of HEF's posted back during the 2019 Canvass was 20,167.
Computers are available for use at the Welcome Centre in Douglas for anyone who wishes to respond online, but does not have access to the internet.
People who respond online or by phone or text, do not need to return the electoral registration form.
Sample form
The form you receive will look like the sample form below and will contain a pre-paid envelope too.
