Don’t lose your vote – check your registration details now
Residents across West Oxfordshire are being urged to check their voter registration details as this year’s Annual Canvass gets underway.
The Annual Canvass allows the Council to check voter details are up to date on the electoral register, identify who risks losing their vote at elections, and encourage them to register before it’s too late. With local elections taking place in May 2026 for a third of the District’s Councillors, now is the time to make sure you are ready to vote.
Giles Hughes, Electoral Registration Officer for West Oxfordshire District Council, said:
“We’ll be contacting every household in the district to confirm who is registered to vote at that property. It’s quick and easy to check and updating your details and responding promptly helps us avoid sending out reminders and reduces paper waste.
If you’ve recently moved, it’s especially important to double-check, as many people in their new homes don’t realise they’re not registered to vote yet. The easiest way to register is online at https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote"
The Council will be contacting households via post or email in the coming months with information on what the householder needs to do to make sure their details are accurate. Households must confirm their property details if requested to do so. Individuals who need to register to vote will need to do this either online or completing a paper form, we will post a paper form to you if we do not receive an online application.
Residents can find out more about registering to vote by visiting the council website at www.westoxon.gov.uk/annualcanvass)
Anyone with questions about their electoral registration status can contact the council’s Electoral Services Team at [email protected] or by calling 01993 861410.
Contact Information
West Oxfordshire District Council Communications Team
Notes to editors
1. 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.
2. The electoral register lists the names and addresses of everyone who is registered to vote. The register is used for electoral purposes, such as making sure only eligible people can vote. It is also used for other reasons as specified in law, such as detecting crime (e.g. fraud), calling people for jury service or checking credit applications.
3. 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. For example, it is used by businesses and charities to confirm name and address details. 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.
4. To be eligible to register to vote a person must be:
- Resident (usually live) in the UK and aged 16 or over (but you will not be able to vote until you are aged 18
- A British citizen or Irish citizen
- A Commonwealth citizen (including Maltese and Cypriot) who has permission to enter or stay in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man, or who does not need permission
- A European Union (EU) citizen of Denmark, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, or Spain who has permission to enter or stay in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man, or who did not need permission
- A European Union (EU) citizen of any other EU country who on or before 31 December 2020 had permission to enter or stay in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man, or who did not need permission, and had continued without a break
The EU citizens described above can vote in local elections and Police and Crime Commissioner elections, and Mayor of London and London Assembly only.
5. Full details of the Electoral Commission’s research on the electoral registers can be found on its website.
6. District Council elections and associated parishes will have scheduled elections on 7 May 2026, these will be for a third of the District Council members refer to www.westoxon.gov.uk/elections