Saturday, August 08, 2020

BRIGG HOUSEHOLDS: HOW TO ENSURE YOU ARE REGISTERED TO VOTE

The Angel polling station in Brigg - picture on Nigel Fisher's Brigg Blog

Brigg Blog suggests that all householders check to ensure they are registered to vote in future elections and by-elections - local and national.
If you have friends or relatives who are NOT connected to the internet or do not have a mobile phone with texting installed, urge them to do likewise - just to be on the safe side.
Call North Lincolnshire Council on 01724 296245 or if you are a Brigg Blog follower who lives in West Lindsey, contact the Gainsborough-based authority.
North Lincolnshire Council recently issued a statement containing two paragraphs that caught our attention:
"This year we are contacting people by email or text and asking them to confirm the details we currently have for their household."
AND
"Residents have to be on the full electoral register by law. Failure to register can incur a civil penalty of £80."
Keen to comply but not having received an email or text by early August, we decided to call to 01724 296245 and a helpful member of staff checked our details and confirmed all to be in order. It transpired that neither our email address nor phone number were on record. You might be in the same position. So it's worth checking.

THE FULL COUNCIL STATEMENT, ISSUED LATE JULY

North Lincolnshire residents are being urged not to lose their vote by responding promptly to the household enquiry messages we are currently sending out.
We compile the electoral register every year so that we know who is eligible to register to vote. To do this, we need to know who lives at your address.
This year we are contacting people by email or text and asking them to confirm the details we currently have for their household.
To confirm they are correct, or to amend any details, you can respond online by following the instructions on your message.
For more information about the electoral register and registering to vote, go to our website or call the elections office on 01724 296245.
Residents have to be on the full electoral register by law. Failure to register can incur a civil penalty of £80.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CURRENTLY ON THE COUNCIL'S WEBSITE

This year the Government has reformed the way councils compile the new register.  It’s called Canvass Reform 2020.  Each year, all local authorities will have their current electors data matched against records held by the Department of Work & Pensions (DWP).  When we get the results back all properties will be identified by a specific route.  All electors matched in a property will go into Route 1 and all empty properties or where there is one or more unmatched elector will go into Route 2.
For Route 1 properties, to save the council some money, we will be asking people to confirm that the information we have on the electoral register is correct by email or text.  This communication will be sent in July.  There will be a link to complete your response online and when accessed will look like this https://www.elecreg.co.uk/northlincs
 The communication will contain two security codes unique to a property.   If we do not hold any contact details we will send a letter in August addressed to The Occupier asking you to check who is listed on the form.  If there are no changes then you do not need to do anything.  The form will indicate the options for a response if there is a change to be made.
You are helping the environment by allowing us to contact you by email or text, otherwise we have to send you the letter in the post.  If you have any doubt as to the authenticity of the communication, please contact Electoral Services on 01724 296245.
Route 2 properties will be sent a Canvass Form in August.  The letter will be addressed to The Occupier and must be completed.  The letter will contain the two part security code for the response.  If we have not received a response then one of our canvassers will call in September/October and help you to complete the Canvass Form.  All canvassers will carry an identity card.   You can call our helpline number if you have any concerns.