Annual Canvass

Ukrainian citizens are not eligible to register to vote in England as the Ukraine is not a member of the EU or Commonwealth.

Therefore, Ukrainian citizens are not eligible to register to vote in England and should not be in included on canvass forms.

We check the details on the electoral register each year during the autumn months. We call this the Annual Canvass.

We send a form to every property in the district to ask you if the same residents are still living at the address or if there are other changes to make, we are required to carry out the Annual Canvass by law.

The changes might be to remove someone's details; add a new elector; change a name, or opt-out of the open register.

The Annual Canvass was amended for 2020 following introduction of the Canvass Reform Regulations, see below for further information.

Canvass Reform Regulations

The Canvass Reform regulations were introduced for the 2020 Annual Canvass. Each year all elector details held on the electoral register are matched against the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) records. Each elector is then  given a match status - either green (matched) or red (unmatched). This status determines which type of form a property will receive during the annual canvass.

The Electoral Registration Officer does not receive the details of why any person does not match against  DWP records.

Two styles of forms

Canvass communication A

A property will receive a Canvass Communication A (CCA) where all electors at the address have received a green match status.

The property occupants do not have to respond to this form unless there are any changes to be made to the details of the electors who are resident at that property and eligible to vote. If there are any changes to make, then the property occupants must respond using one of the methods detailed on the form.

Canvass communication B

A property will receive a Canvass Communication B (CCB)  where all electors at the address have received a red match status, or where there is a mix of red and green match statuses, or the property does not have electors registered, but we believe that there are eligible occupants to be added onto the electoral register. The property occupants must respond to this form, even if all the details supplied on the form are correct. The property occupants need to respond using one of the methods detailed on the form.

Replying to the annual canvass

Canvass communication A

If the details on the form are correct and there are no changes to be made, you do not need to respond to the form.

If the details on the form are incorrect and changes need to be made, you must respond to the form by using one of the methods listed below.

• Online - www.householdresponse.com/staffsmoorlands - you will need the 2 part security code printed on your letter
• Amend and return the paper form

Canvass communication B -you mustrespond even if the details listed on the form are correct

If the details on the form are incorrect you must respond to the form by using one of the methods listed below.

• Online - www.householdresponse.com/staffsmoorlands you will need the 2 part security code printed on the form
• Amend if necessary and return the paper form 

If the details on the form are correct you must respond to the form by using one of the services listed below.

• Online - www.householdresponse.com/staffsmoorlands you will need the 2 part security code printed on the form
• Call 0800 884 0701 and when prompted enter part 1 and part 2 of your security code
• Text NOCHANGE followed by your security code to 80212 (if nobody is eligible to vote include a reason after your security code eg empty, business, 2^nd home other reason)
• Amend and return the paper form

Anyone newly added to the Canvass Communication A or Canvass Communication B Form, will be sent an individual electoral registration form called an Invitation to Register or they can register online www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.