AS canvassers are busy around the district dropping off electoral registration canvass forms, Harrogate Borough Council is pleased to see that residents are making use of the freephone service and the internet. 

 

Harrogate is one of over 100 councils across the country which is working with the Electoral Reform Services (ERS) to offer local residents an innovative and easier way to register for their vote.

 

Households where details haven't changed can simply make a freephone call or use the internet to let the council know.  So no form filling and no need to pop to the post box.

 

Where changes have occurred, because people have moved or children have attained voting age etc, the registration canvass form should be completed, following the easy instructions, and delivered back to the council in the pre-paid envelope.  And Harrogate Council's electoral registration team is urging residents to remember to sign the form as many are not doing so and the forms are having to be returned.

 

Karen Birdsall, Senior Elections Officer, said: "The freephone and internet service are available 24 hours, seven days a week.  So it couldn't be easier for those homes that just want to tell us that their details remain the same.  The freephone system proved very popular last year with over half of those households using the system.  This year, we are hoping that the internet will also prove as popular.  If some of the comments we have received are an indication, we know it will be."

 

This is just some of the feedback the electoral registration team have had via the internet.

 

 

 

 

Developed by the ERS, freephone and internet registration means updates are immediate and more accurate, and there are significant reductions in the costs of the canvass.

 

Details of the freephone and internet address are available on the registration canvass forms which people will need to  have to hand to make the calls as it contains their confidential registration number.  ENDS