Annual Canvass Underway - Don't Lose Your Voice

Residents in Orkney are being encouraged not to lose their voice on matters that affect them by completing and returning their annual canvass form to the Electoral Registration Office as soon as possible.

The form ensures that the electoral register for Orkney is kept up to date and can identify any residents who are not registered, so that they can be encouraged to do so. This will mean that residents will be able take part in any future elections.

Dennis Stevenson the Electoral Registration Officer for Orkney and Shetland said: “It’s important that residents respond as soon as possible, so we can make sure we have the right details on the electoral register for every address in Orkney. If you’re not currently registered, your name will not appear on the form. To make sure you are able to have your say at future elections, simply check the form you receive and respond as soon as you can. All responses can now be made online and we would encourage householders, where possible, to use this method rather than returning the form in the post.”

People who have moved address recently are particularly encouraged to keep an eye out for the form and check the details. Research by the independent Electoral Commission indicates that recent home movers are far less likely to be registered than those who have lived at the same address for a long time. Across Great Britain, 94% of people who have been at their property for more than sixteen years will be registered, compared to 40% of people who have lived at an address for less than one year.

Andy O’Neill, Head of the Electoral Commission, Scotland said: “It’s really important that everyone who is entitled to vote is able to do so; checking the form you receive through the post is one of the easiest ways to find out if you are already registered. There’s lots of helpful information about registering to vote on our website Your Vote Matters.

Any residents who have any questions can contact the Electoral Registration Office at 8 Broad Street, Kirkwall Tel: 01856876222, or email the Electoral Registration Office.