Voter registration forms will be dropping through letterboxes across the borough between July 23 to 26 to ensure that all residents who are eligible can exercise their right to vote.

Hackney Council’s Electoral Registration Office will be sending forms to every household in order to compile the Electoral Register. The form needs to be updated with details of everyone in your home who is eligible to vote and returned as soon as possible. If these details haven’t changed replies can be sent by text, phone or online.

To be eligible to vote your name must appear in the register of electors. You can register to vote if you are 16 or over but you must be 18 or over on polling day.

Tim Shields, the Council’s Electoral Registration Officer, said: “Hackney saw a good turn out for the GLA elections in May and we were pleased with the number of residents who registered in the run-up to polling day. However, it is important to remember that you need to register to vote every year and you must complete and return your registration form so that you can take part in any elections or referendums next year.”

For more information contact your local Electoral Registrations and Elections Office, tel: 020 8356 3232, visit: www.hackney.gov.uk/annual-canvass  email:info@hackney.gov.uk

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. The annual canvass takes place every autumn. An annual canvass form will be sent to every property in Hackney. A revised electoral register will be published by 1 December 2012

2. Special provisions to register also apply to members of the UK armed forces serving abroad to allow them to vote. For more information, go to www.aboutmyvote.co.uk

3. There are two versions of the electoral register – the full and edited registers. Only certain people and organisations can have copies of the full register and can only use it for specified reasons. The edited register can be bought by anyone who asks for it and can be used for any purpose, including direct marketing.