Shetland residents are being urged to check their electoral registration details or risk losing their chance to vote on decisions that affect them.
The Electoral Registration Officer will be getting in touch with every household to check that the electoral register is up to date, and to identify any residents who should be registered but are currently missing.
Robert Eunson, Electoral Registration Officer for Orkney and Shetland, said:
“Keep an eye out for an important letter from our office. The annual canvass is our way of making sure that the information on the electoral register for every address is accurate and up to date. To make sure you don’t lose your say at upcoming elections, simply follow the instructions sent to you. If you’re not currently registered, your name will not appear in the letters we send.”
Recent home movers in particular are urged to check their details. Electoral Commission research has found that recent home movers are less likely to be registered than those who have lived at the same address for a long time.
Andy O’Neill, Head of the Electoral Commission in Scotland, said:
“It’s really important that everyone who is eligible to vote is able to do so. We urge people to check for updates from their Electoral Registration Officer on this year’s canvass. You might receive an email, a letter, or a phone call, or someone might knock on your door. If you are not registered to vote, make sure you provide the necessary information to your Electoral Registration Officer when asked and register to vote online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.”
Residents with questions about their registration status can contact the local electoral registration office at 20 Commercial Road, Lerwick or call 01595 745700 or email ero@shetland.gov.uk
Notes to editors
- The Representation of the People Act 1983 places a duty on electoral registration officers to maintain the electoral register for their area and to conduct an annual canvass of all residential properties. The electoral register lists the names and addresses of everyone who is registered to vote.
- The open register is an extract of the electoral register, but is not used for elections. It can be bought by any person, company or organisation. Your name and address will be included in the open register unless you ask for them to be removed. Removing your details from the open register does not affect your right to vote.
- To be eligible to register to vote a person must be –
- Aged 14 or over (a person may register to vote at 14, but may not vote until they are 16 for Scottish Parliament and council elections and aged 18 for UK Parliament elections)
- A British, Irish, EU or other foreign citizen who has leave to enter and remain in the UK or does not require such leave.