Sign up for email reminders as we check the electoral register

Every year, the council checks that its list of voters (the electoral register) is correct. This check is called "the canvass". It starts this week.

The council wants more people to sign up for email reminders.

Why email is best

66,379 people in Reading already get their canvass letters by email. This is faster, easier and cheaper than post.

If you want to swap to email, contact the elections team on elections@reading.gov.uk.

When you get our email

You must reply to the email. You can either:

• confirm your details are still correct, or
• tell us what has changed.

The quickest way to reply is online. Just follow the details in the email.

If you don't reply online, we will have to send you a letter instead.

What to do if you get a letter

Some people don't have an email address on file. These people will get a letter instead.

If nothing has changed, you don't need to reply to the letter.

But please share your email address with us. This will make things easier next time.

Louise Duffield, Electoral Registration Officer at Reading Borough Council, said:

"We’d urge all residents to help us help you by signing up for email reminders. It’s not only the simplest and quickest way to respond, it also saves the Council and the council taxpayer money as there are no postage costs for anyone.

“You can sign up by either confirming your email address with our elections team at elections@reading.gov.uk or, for people still receiving letters, by sharing your email address by following the instructions given.

“It’s important that residents keep an eye out for emails or letters from the Council over the coming days and weeks and respond as quickly as they can. Responses allow us to keep the electoral register up to date, to identify people who are not registered to vote and encourage them to do so.”