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Annual Canvass FAQs

What is the Annual Electoral Canvass?

Every year, the Electoral Registration Office for Clackmannanshire, Falkirk & Stirling is required by law to conduct a canvass of electors to maintain an accurate and up-to-date electoral register.

The new electoral register will be published on the 1st December 2026.

 

 

  • At the beginning of the Canvass, details from the electoral register are sent securely to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Electors’ details are matched against National Insurance details and other Government records.  Data matching may also be supported by local data matching (e.g. Council Tax data).

    This data matching process will determine one of three possible routes which properties will go down in a chase-cycle for information. These cycles will involve various communication methods, including digital, postal forms and in-person canvasser visits.

  • The data matching stage will assign your property a route number, which will determine how we communicate with you to update our records. The three routes are as follows:

    • Route 1 – all individuals within a property have been matched with either national or local data
    • Route 2 – only some/none of the individuals within a property have been matched with either national or local data
    • Route 3 – residential/nursing homes and student accommodation

    Each route will involve its own processes and communication methods, and this is determined by the information we hold for each property.

    Not all properties will receive the same communication.

  • The type of communication you will receive is dependent on the route your property has been assigned to and what information we hold for the property. You may be contacted by one or more of the following ways:

    • By post (CCA, CCB, or Canvass Form)
    • By e-mail
    • By telephone
    • By a visit from an electoral canvasser

  • You can tell which form you have received by looking at the letters in the top left-hand corner of the letter. This will either contain:

    • CCA
    • CCB
    • CF

     

     

  • It is a legal requirement to respond to the Canvass, even if you have updated your details recently.

  • The ways in which you can respond to Canvass communication depends on the type of communication you receive. A breakdown of the types of communication and how to respond is set out in the table below.

     

    Further information can also be found on our website here:
  • Types of Communication Received How do I respond?
    E-mail Online –

    – Visit the website: www.elecreg.co.uk/centralscotland-vjb

    – Enter the unique security codes provided in your e-mail

    – Update your household information as required, tick the declaration box and then click ‘confirm and sign out’

     

    E-mail –

    [email protected]

     

    Telephone – Call 01786 892289

     
    CCA Form You only need to respond if there are changes

     

    Online –

    – Visit the website: www.elecreg.co.uk/centralscotland-vjb

    – Enter the unique security codes provided on the form

    – Update your household information as required, tick the declaration box and then click ‘confirm and sign out’

     

    E- mail –

    [email protected]

     

    Telephone – Call 01786 892289

     

    By post – Sign and date the declaration box and then pop the form in the self-addressed envelope provided and return via the post.

     

     
    CCB Form Online –

     – Visit the website: www.elecreg.co.uk/centralscotland-vjb

    – Enter the unique security codes provided on the form

    – Update your household information as required, tick the declaration box and then click ‘confirm and sign out’

     

    E-mail –

    [email protected]

     

    Telephone –Call 01786 892289

     

    By post – Sign and date the declaration box and then pop the form in the self-addressed envelope provided and return via the post.

     

     
    Canvas Form (CF) Online –

    – Visit the website: www.elecreg.co.uk/centralscotland-vjb

    – Enter the unique security codes provided on the form

    – Update your household information as required, tick the declaration box and then click ‘confirm and sign out’

     

    E-mail – [email protected]

     

    Telephone – Call 01786 892289

     

    By post – Sign and date the declaration box and then pop the form in the self-addressed envelope provided and return via the post.

     

  • Once we have received your Canvass response, any changes you have made to the property will be processed and updated on the Electoral Register.

    IMPORTANT:

    New individuals added through the Canvass MUST complete an application to register to vote in order to be added to the electoral register.  Adding someone’s name to the Canvass response does not mean that they are automatically registered to vote.

    New applications to register to vote can be made online at https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote .  The registration process takes 5 mins and requires your  [add link to how to find your NINO] If you do not have a National Insurance Number we may contact you to confirm your Identity another way..  We will send each new person a paper registration form if they do not apply online.   We can also take an individual’s new application over the telephone.

    Further information can be found on our website at www.centralscotland-vjb.gov.uk/electoralregistration

    If you have requested a postal or proxy vote, you will be sent an application form(s) to complete.

    Currently in Scotland you have to apply separately for a UK Parliamentary and your Scottish Parliamentary and Local Government postal vote.

    Applications for postal or proxy votes covering UK Parliamentary elections can be made online by visiting:

    Postal Vote: https://www.gov.uk/apply-postal-vote

    Proxy Vote: https://www.gov.uk/apply-proxy-vote

    Applications for Scottish Parliamentary / Local Council elections cannot be made online at this time.  We will send you a paper application form to complete.

    If you have advised us of a change of name you can either submit a brand new application in your new name at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote (making sure you include details of your previous name when asked on the application) or contact us on 01786 892289 and we can send you a Change of Name Form to complete and return.  This completed form will need to be accompanied by documentation evidencing your change of name.

    After your response has been submitted, you should not receive any further communication regarding the Canvass (this year). If you do receive something further from us, please disregard it as your response will have already been recorded.

     

     

     

  • Firstly, please check the security codes have been entered correctly.

    The security codes are only valid for one response per household so if someone else in your household has already responded they will no longer work.

    If you have moved recently and you have had your mail forwarded on to your new address, please ensure that you are using the security codes and postcode which were sent to and which relate to the property where you are living.

    If you have further difficulties logging into the service, please contact us on 01786 892289 or by e-mail at [email protected]

     

     

  • You can request the removal of individuals from the electoral register at your property by responding to the Canvass online. Please follow the instructions below on how to do this:

    Visit the website: www.elecreg.co.uk/centralscotland-vjb

    Enter the unique security codes provided on the form

    Complete Sections 1 and 2, you will then be presented a list of current individuals registered to vote at the property in Section 3

    Click the ‘Remove’ button on the relevant individual(s) to request their deletion from the electoral register at your address

    Once you have updated any other household information, submit your response

    You can also contact us on 01786 892289 or by e-mail at

    [email protected]  to update your property’s electoral register details.

  • If responding via a form, tick the appropriate box or write on the form that the property is either a second home or a holiday home, then sign, date and return the form using the pre-paid envelope provided.

    Alternatively, please contact us directly on 01786 892289 or by e-mail at [email protected]

  • Students can register to vote at both their home and their college or university address but can only vote once in both UK general elections or in Scottish Parliamentary elections.

    If a student’s home and university address are in two different local authority areas, students can vote in both local elections.

    If you do not want to register to vote at the address you have received the canvass letter for, and your name is listed then you need to:

    1. Visit the website: www.elecreg.co.uk/centralscotland-vjb
    2. Enter your unique security codes provided on the form
    3. Complete Section’s 1 and 2. You will then be presented a list of current individuals registered to vote at the property in Section 3
    4. Click the ‘Remove’ button on the relevant individual(s) to request their deletion from the electoral register at your address
    5. Once you have updated any other household information, submit your response

    You can also contact us on 01786 892289 or by e-mail at

    [email protected]

  • Anyone living at the property who is 14 years of age or over and is a British, Irish, Commonwealth or qualifying foreign national who is living in Scotland and has permission to enter or stay in the UK is eligible to register to vote.  See the attached link for further details of who is eligible to be registered to vote in Scotland.

    Who can vote in UK elections | Electoral Commission

    To remove the names of anyone in your household who do not meet this criteria:-

    1. Visit the website: www.elecreg.co.uk/centralscotland-vjb
    2. Enter your unique security codes provided on the form
    3. Complete Section’s 1 and 2. You will then be presented a list of current individuals registered to vote at the property in Section 3
    4. Click the ‘Remove’ button on the relevant individual(s) to request their deletion from the electoral register at your address
    5. Once you have updated any other household information, or added the details of any new occupants, submit your response

    You can also contact us on 01786 892289 or by e-mail at

    [email protected] to provide your response.

     

  • If you have received the canvass letter but are about to move to a new house, please contact us so we can discuss the most appropriate course of action. You can email us at [email protected] or call 01786 892289.

    Once you have moved into your new home, you will need to make a new application to register to vote.

    This can be done here: https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.   Alternatively, please contact us by email or telephone to request a hard copy registration application to be posted or emailed to you.

  • In Scotland, anyone aged 14 or over can be registered to vote (but you can’t vote until you’re 16 years old).

    If your children are aged under 14 then they will not be included on the Register, and you do not need to do anything further.

    Anyone living at the property who is over the age of 14 and is a British, Irish, Commonwealth or qualifying foreign national who is living in Scotland and has permission to enter or stay in the UK can register to vote. The quickest and easiest way to add someone is to:

    1. Add the new person to the canvass form (either via our online service or by completing a hard copy canvass form)
    2. Complete an application to register to vote. This can be done here at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote . We will send each new person who has been added to the canvass form, an electoral registration form if they do not apply online.

    You can also contact us by e-mail at [email protected] or call us on 01786 892289.

    If you have children who will be 14 before the Annual Canvass next year, then they can go on and register after their birthday by visiting www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

  • The open register is an extract of the electoral register that is not used for elections. It can be bought by any person, company or organisation.

    With the exception of those under the age of 16 (who can be registered but will not appear on the published list of Registered Electors), you will be auto enrolled onto the open register unless you request otherwise. The open register will contain your name and address.

    Removing your details from the open register does not affect your right to vote and will not affect whether you appear on the electoral register on your credit file.

    To update your open register preferences, please contact us by telephone on 01786 892289 or by email [email protected]

  • You can vote in-person, by post or by proxy.

    You can apply for a postal vote or proxy vote online to cover UK Parliamentary elections – to do this please visit the websites below:

    Postal Vote: https://www.gov.uk/apply-postal-vote

    Proxy Vote: https://www.gov.uk/apply-proxy-vote

    Applications for postal votes or proxy votes for Scottish  Parliamentary or Local Council elections cannot be made online at this time.  Please contact us directly to request a paper application form.

    Further information on absent voting can be found on our website here:

    www.centralscotland-vjb.gov.uk/absent-voting

    If you wish to receive paper application forms or cancel your current absent voting arrangement, please contact us directly on 01786 892289 or by e-mail at [email protected]

  • Unfortunately, our systems are unable to identify who the responsible person is for a property when sending communications. As a result, other members of your household may be contacted regarding the Canvass. Only one member of the household is required to respond.

  • The method of contact for each household is dependent on the information we hold for the property itself rather than the street. Further information can be found on our website here:

     

    www.centralscotland-vjb.gov.uk/annual-canvass/

  • If you have previously provided us with an email address or telephone number, we will use this to contact you regarding the Canvass in the first instance, where applicable to your property route.

    If you would prefer to unsubscribe your contact information, please just let us know.  Please be aware however that this can lead to delays should we have the need to clarify aspects of your registration with you in the future.

    Your contact details are only used for the purposes of managing your registration, they are not included on published registers.

  • If your address is incorrect, for example, your property should have a house name or you have recently changed the name of your property then please let us know by contacting us on 01786 892289 or by e-mail at [email protected]

    We cannot always change your address as we work to national addressing guidelines, but we will if we have made a mistake, or we have been advised by the relevant Local Authority that your official address has changed from what we have on record.  Please note however that you may need to contact your individual department to request a change. Links to each Local Authority are outlined below:-

    Clackmannanshire Council – Street Naming & Numbering

    Falkirk Council – Streets and parking: Street naming and numbering – Falkirk Council

    Stirling Council – Street naming and numbering | Stirling Council

    Please note you should still follow the directions set out on the canvass form.

     

     

  • We appreciate that to ensure their safety, some residents do not wish to appear on the register of electors. For example, if they have left an abusive relationship or have a sensitive occupation.

    If your name appears on the canvass letter but you feel that this may put you at risk, please contact us as soon as possible to discuss applying to register anonymously.

    The Electoral Commission also provide information about registering anonymously, which can be found here: https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voting-and-elections/who-can-vote/registervote/register-vote-anonymously.

    You can contact us on 01786 892289 or by e-mail at

    [email protected]

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