	Electoral Services Torbay Council Town Hall Castle Circus Torquay TQ1 3DR
	electoral.regist ration @torbay.gov.uk
	01803 207171 (tel)
	01803 207112 (fax)

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The Annual Canvass

Background

We are required by law to conduct an annual canvass of all the properties in the Torbay area. There are over 62,000 residential properties within Torbay. The registration form enables us to maintain the Electoral Register and holds the names of all those eligible to vote within Torbay.

You will receive the form over the next few days. The form is addressed to the occupier. To ensure we gather as much information as possible we send out a reminder form in October. At the end of October personal canvassers are sent to those properties who have not responded to the previous two forms.

Please open the envelope and reply as soon as possible as this will avoid a reminder form being sent out.

Reminders cost the borough money.

If you don't register

1. You and other eligible people in your household may lose their right to vote in Parliamentary, European and local government elections and referendums. The next elections scheduled to be held in Torbay are on the 5th May 2011. Several elections will take place on the same day; the election for the Elected Mayor, local council elections and in Brixham, Parish Council elections. It is also highly likely that a national referendum for changing the current "first past the post" voting system will be held on the same day. This means that voters in Brixham could be receiving four ballot papers!

2. If you do not register this could affect your credit rating, which means you may have problems applying for a loan or mortgage, bank or building society account, mobile phone contract, store finance or a catalogue. Credit reference agencies check the register to make sure you are who you say you are when applying for credit.

How to register

Each year, over 20,000 households register their details via the freephone response service. Alternatively, you may wish to register by internet or by SMS text message.

If there have been no changes to the details on the enclosed canvass form and the details will remain unchanged on 15 October 2010, you will be able to return the details on your form via the telephone, online or by SMS.Simply follow the instructions when prompted.

The internet address, telephone number and SMS code are given on your canvass form together with your unique security code which you will need in order to register. All three services are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for the duration of the canvass.

Register by freephone or internet if:

All the names on the form are correct, and:
There are no changes other than excluding household members from the freely available version of the register, known as the edited (saleable)register. You must ask each elector their preference before registering.

Visit http://registerbyinternet.com/torbay to register online.

Freephone: - Dial 0800 197 8608. Follow the instructions when prompted.

If the details on the form have changed in any way, you must return the form in the enveloped provided. You will not be able to register any changes via telephone or internet.

Register by text (SMS) if:

All the names on the form are correct

(Please note that you will not be able to change preferences relating to the edited (saleable)register with this service and must use either the freephone or internet service if you wish to do this)

Return the form by post if:

You wish to make any changes
You wish to add or remove residents

Please make any necessary amendments to your form, then sign and return it in the envelope provided.

The Annual Canvass

Background

If you don't register

How to register

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