Electoral Register

Annual Canvass 

The Register is updated monthly between January and September to add new electors and to deal with address changes etc. This procedure is suspended thereafter to allow the annual canvass of households to take place and time for preparation of the new Register. Electoral registration forms are issued to each household around the beginning of September, requesting details of eligible residents as at 15 October. The information obtained during the canvass then goes forward to the new Register published on or before 1st December.

Electors in households for which no electoral registration canvass form has been received for two consecutive years may be deleted from the register in prescribed circumstances. The Electoral Registration Officer will confirm every such deletion in writing, in order to give the elector the opportunity to be reinstated.

• Some 245,000 Household Canvass Forms are issued across Grampian annually and should be completed and returned immediately. Although the Register is made up as at 15 October, do not wait until then to complete and return the form. If there are later changes please ask for new forms for changes of address or new arrivals.

• Reminders are issued in late September and again in October, but do not wait until these arrive. Respond to the initial form so as to contribute to an accurate Register. Remember, it is not only used at elections. Credit Reference Agencies are legally entitled to copies of the Register and if they cannot locate your name you may find difficulty in obtaining credit for a loan or mortgage etc.

• You can use the Household Form to ask for a Postal Voting Application Form and to choose to have your name excluded from the Edited Register, which is available for general sale.

More information about Electoral Registration is available from the SAA Home Page Menu