Annual canvass: check you are registered to vote

Birmingham City Council is carrying out its annual canvass, the yearly check of who is registered to vote at every address in the city. Residents are being asked to respond if they receive a letter or email.

What the canvass is

Every council in Great Britain must check its electoral register each year to make sure it is accurate. Households are contacted by letter, email, phone or a visit, and asked to confirm who lives there or tell the council about changes.

The updated register is usually published by 1 December.

Being on the household list is not the same as being registered

Confirming the names at your address does not register anyone to vote. Anyone who is not already registered, including people who have recently moved or turned 16 or 17, needs to apply separately. It takes about five minutes online at the Government's register to vote website, and you will need your National Insurance number.

Who can register

British, Irish and qualifying Commonwealth citizens aged 18 or over can vote in all elections. People can apply to register from the age of 16. Some EU citizens can also vote in local elections, depending on their circumstances.

Why it matters

Being on the electoral register means you can vote in elections, and it can also help your credit rating, because lenders use the register to check people's addresses.

Students can register at both their home and university addresses, although they may only vote once in a general election.

Photo ID at polling stations

Voters in England need to show accepted photo identification at polling stations. Anyone without an accepted form of ID can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate.

Next elections

There are no scheduled city council elections in Birmingham until 2030, but by-elections can happen at any time, and a general election must be held by 2029.