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 Electoral Registration Canvass gets underway.
The Annual Canvass allows the Council to check voter details are up to date on the electoral register by contacting every household. This helps to identify and remove electors who have moved away, and ensuring all new eligible people are included on the register of electors. In May 2027 elections will take place for a third of the District, Parish and Town Council areas.
Andrea McCaskie, 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, recruiting canvassers to door knock and reducing 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 by post and email in the coming months with information explaining what they need to do. Some households will be asked to respond even if their details have not changed, so residents should read the instructions they receive carefully.
Preparing young people to have their say
Families are being encouraged to think about younger members of their household who could be eligible to vote for the first time in 2027. All eligible 16 and 17 year olds should be included on the household canvass details, so we can ensure they are registered and able to vote at elections as soon as they reach 18.
Parents and carers with teenagers who will be old enough to vote in 2027 are encouraged to make sure they understand how voter registration works and what they will need to do to be ready to have their say.
https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/resources/resources-young-people/your-vote
Government plans are underway to lower the voting age to 16 ahead of the next Parliamentary General election which must be held before August 2029.
Further details will be provided for younger voters and their families once the legislation is in place.
Support to register and vote
The Council wants everyone to be able to register and vote with confidence. Residents with a disability or accessibility needs can access additional information and support, including information in Easy Read, plain text, audio and British Sign Language.
Information is available on our website (given below) about the support disabled residents and those with accessibility needs can receive when voting. If you or someone you know could benefit from a specific visual/hearing device or have an idea that might help support your/their visit to a polling station, please reach out and let the Elections Team know, where they will be happy to discuss this with you.
Find out more about accessible voting information and support at: https://www.westoxon.gov.uk/about-the-council/elections-and-voting/helping-you-to-vote-disabled-access-and-information/
Residents can find out more about the Annual Canvass and what they need to do 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
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 currently 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 can be found on the Electoral Commissions website at: https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voting-and-elections.
6. Elections for one third of the District Council electoral cycle will take place, alongside Parish and Town Council elections across the district on Thursday 6 May 2027.