What is the annual canvass?
Each year we conduct an annual canvass. We do this to ensure that the electoral register is accurate and up to date. We contact our residents to check who lives at each property. We do this by:
- Inviting unregistered residents to register.
- Removing the names of voters who no longer live at each address.
We will publish the results of the revised register on 1st February 2025.
Who should register?
People who should be registered at your address:
- Residents aged 16 and over.
- Residents who are British, Irish, or European Union.
- Permanent residents of the property. This excludes visitors and landlords.
Residents aged 16 and 17 should be added to the register. This will enable them to vote on or after their 18th birthday.
What do you need to do?
All residential properties in Harrow will either be sent an email or a form. This will be to confirm the occupants of the property. The email or form will state whether you need to respond. Please read the communication carefully to ensure you do what is asked of you.
Household response emails
If you are sent an email it will be from Harrow@householdresponse.com. Please rest assured that this is a genuine email. It is not a spam and might be in your junk folder. Emails have been sent out from October 2024 onwards.
Telling us about a change
To let us know of a change, please complete the Household Response Form. You will need to enter the security codes provided in the email or form. The codes are unique to the property and may only be used once.
Confirming your details
To confirm that the details in your email or form are correct, you can:
- Send an SMS text message to 80212. Send a message together with the two security codes shown in the email or form.
- Call the automated service on 0800 197 9871.
- Complete the online Household Response Form. You will need to enter the security codes provided in the email or form.
What happens if I do not respond?
If you were asked to respond but do not, we will send you a reminder. You must respond to the form even if there are no changes. You can also post the form back to us in the pre-paid envelope provided.
If you do not respond by October, we may visit your property to confirm your information. It is important that you tell us about any changes in your household. This is so we can make sure you are able to vote in any elections.
What if I do not want to register?
The law requires eligible residents to register if asked. Some benefits of being on the register are not linked to elections. Credit agencies can access the electoral register. They use it to verify an individual's address. If someone is not on the electoral register it may affect their ability to:
- get credit,
- get a mortgage or
- access other financial services
If you are not registered or you have recently moved, you can register on GOV.UK.