The Annual Canvass
Why have you received a form, letter or email from us?
Every year, the Registration Officer for Manchester City Council is required to undertake an annual canvass of all households in Manchester to ensure that the electoral register is as accurate and complete as possible. The information we receive is used to update the electoral register.
From 28 July 2023, we will be contacting households in a number of different ways:
- Email - Where the Electoral Services Unit hold an email address for an elector, we will send an email to a member of that household. A response to this email is required, which can be done online following the guidance provided in the email.
- Confirmation Letter - when we think we know who lives at an address already, we will send that household a confirmation letter confirming what details we have. We do not require a response to this letter, unless a change is required such as adding or removing a name.
- Canvass Form - When we are not sure who should be registered to vote at an address we will send a canvass form to that household, this form must be responded to regardless of whether changes to details need to be made or not. If we do not receive a response, then we will send out a reminder form. If a response is not received from the reminder letter, a canvass inspector will call to the property to confirm the information required. Responding promptly to this form saves the council money.
The deadline to respond to all of the above is 18 August 2023. Every property is legally required to check that the information on the correspondence is correct and let us know if there are any changes. If you do not, you may get a fine. Please also remember to include details of any 16 and 17 year olds.
How to respond to the email canvass communication.
If we have your email address, we will send you an email to remind you to update or confirm your household details online. We are allowed to use your email address for electoral purposes and the email will be sent from manchester@householdresponse.com
This is the official email account that we use, and the email will direct you to our household response website where you can confirm the electoral register details for your property. The email will include two security codes that you must provide when signing in, along with your current post code.
If you receive an email and follow the online guidance to confirm your details are correct, with no changes required, you do not need to return any paper annual canvass form that you may receive. Responding online will save the Council money.
If you notify us of a change via the email online service, depending on your choice of contact method, you may receive additional correspondence from us via email or via post which may require a further response from you.
Please note that you may be receiving an email because you are still registered to vote at a previous address. If this is the case, entering your current postcode will result in the security codes not working. If you have moved address, you need to register to vote at your new address via the Register to Vote portal, which will also allow you to enter your previous address, and this will fully update your details on the electoral register in the next update.
How to respond to the Confirmation Letter
If the details on the form are correct you do not need to respond. If you need to add a name to the electoral register, then that person needs to submit an application to register to vote. If you require any further changes such as removing a name or applying for a postal vote you can do so by contacting us at esu@manchester.gov.uk or calling us on 0161 234 1212.
How to respond to the Canvass Form
- The quickest and easiest way to respond is online. You will be prompted to provide the security codes that are printed on your form.
- If there are no changes, you can respond by calling 0800 197 9871. You will be prompted to provide the security codes that are printed on your forms.
- If there are no changes, you can respond by texting NOCHANGE followed by the security code to 80212.
- If there are changes or no changes, you can respond by completing the form and posting it back to us.
It is important to remember that adding a name to the Canvass form does not automatically register that person to vote. If a new name is added to the canvass form, that individual can either register to vote themselves online, or wait for us to contact them by their preferred method of contact e.g. either email or post inviting them to register to vote.
Please respond to the email or return the form straight away as this will reduce the need for printing statutory reminder forms.