You need to include the name and nationality of everyone aged 16 or over who is resident and eligible to register to vote. If there are no eligible residents, you should state why this is the case.
The Annual Household Canvass take place every year to assist the Electoral Registration Officer in maintaining an up to date and accurate electoral register and includes all those who are eligible to vote. You need to be registered to be able to vote in any election or referendum for which you are eligible.
The electoral register is also used by credit reference agencies, so it is important that you are correctly registered at the property where you currently live. A Canvass Communication will be sent to every residential property within the borough.
How does the process work?
All local authorities are required to data match their current registers with the records held by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) and to conduct local data matching where possible. We recently conducted the national data matching exercise with the DWP and matched our data with Council Tax records. The results showed that over 75% of all households in Bedford Borough have matched.
Where the Electoral Registration Officer holds an email address and the details of the residents in the property matches against the DWP or local data, and email will be sent asking for one of the occupiers to confirm the information is still correct. Please respond to the email as soon as possible to avoid us having to post a letter out to you.
The email will be sent out during the week commencing 21 July 2025 from canvass@bedford.gov.uk and will include information on how to respond. Please note the email is sent via a Bedford Borough email account.
Register Securely is the portal we are using to record all canvass responses.
Canvass communication letters
If you receive a letter which says “Is the electoral register information correct for this address?” You do not need to do anything if the information pre-printed on the letter is all correct. Not responding let’s us know no further action is required.
If the information printed is not correct (someone has moved out, someone is not registered, someone is now 76 or over) you need to tell us. The letter will contain your response options.
Please note: If you’ve added a new person at your address, this person must then register to vote. Adding their name to canvass communication does not automatically register them to vote.
If you need any help, please contact us:
Telephone: 01234 718078
Email: electoral.registration@bedford.gov.uk
Canvass Communication B
If your letter begins with “You must respond so we can check who is eligible to register to vote”
You’ll get this letter if we couldn’t match everyone in your household (either individually or together).
If the information is correct, you still need to confirm this. The letter tells how you can do this online, and gives you security codes, unique to your household, which you need to use.
If the information isn’t correct, you need to let us know. The letter tells how you can do this online, and gives you security codes, unique to your household, which you need to use.
Why the information may not be correct
The information may not be correct because you:
- recently moved house
- recently changed your name
- are not registered at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
- are not named as a liable party with Council Tax
- have a different name format from the name on file, such as initials instead of your full name
Please note: If you’ve added a new person at your address, this person must then register to vote. Adding their name to the canvass communication does not automatically register them to vote.
If you need any help, please contact us:
Telephone: 01234718078
Email: canvass@bedford.gov.uk
Canvass Form
If you don’t respond to the Canvass Communication B letter in August
To avoid us wasting your Council Tax on unnecessary postage please try and respond to the first letter. However, if for some reason you do not receive the letter or we don’t hear from you we will post you a canvass form, with a pre-paid postage envelope, for you to complete and return.
What next?
If you’ve added a new person at your address, this person must then register to vote.
Adding their name does not automatically register them to vote.
After you register online, your identity will be checked with the Department for Work and Pensions’ records. If these don’t match, we will require further evidence of your identity (such as a copy of your passport).
Please note: paying Council Tax does not automatically add you to the electoral register.
We plan to publish our revised register on 1 December 2025.
What will happen after I complete the canvass communication?
Any new names added to a response will allow us to send a separate individual registration form to those in your household who are not yet registered. Or if names are crossed out it will allow us to remove anyone who no longer lives in the property.
How do I complete the information requested on the canvass communication?
Completing the form only takes a few minutes. You need to include the name and nationality of everyone aged 16 or over who is resident and eligible to register to vote. If there are no eligible residents, you should state why this is the case.
If anyone listed on the form is not living at your address, their name/s should be clearly crossed through.
The quickest way to reply is to go to www.registersecurely.com/bedford and log on with the security codes printed on the form sent to you.
If you do not have any changes to make, you can respond via our Freephone number (0800 197 3294). You will need the security codes for the property.
There are people listed on the canvass communication that don’t live here, what do I do?
If anyone listed on the form is not living at your address, you can remove their name/s via the online response form or their name/s should be clearly crossed through and the form returned to Electoral Registration.
Further questions and answers about the Household Canvass
Do I put down everyone who lives here?
Do I have to respond to a canvass communication?
The communication you are sent will say whether you need to respond or not.
If you do need to respond, the quickest way to reply is to log on to www.registersecurely.com/bedford - you will need the security codes printed on the form sent to you. If you do not have any changes to make, you can respond via our Freephone number (0800 197 3294) and the security codes printed on the letter.
I received a canvass communication but the information needs changing. How can I update it?
Any changes including adding or removing residents, nationality and name amendments, or now being aged 76 or over can be made online, alternatively you can amend the form and return it in the post. The updates will be made or you will be contacted you if we require further information.
Do I need to include my email address and phone number on the canvass form?
You are invited to include your email address and phone number on the canvass form, but you do not have to. We will use this information only in connection with your registration, and it helps us to contact you if there is a problem.
I have already applied to register, do I need to return the canvass communication I’ve received too?
Yes. The canvass communication is not a registration form, but instead provides us with information on who lives in your household. This means we can invite other residents, including any 16 or 17 year-olds, to register to vote if we need to.
I have already returned a canvass communication, do I need to return the registration form I’ve received too?
You should complete and return the registration form or register online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.
The canvass communication is not a registration form, but instead provides us with information on who lives in your household. This means we can invite other residents, including any 16 or 17 year-olds, to register to vote if we need to.
I pay Council Tax, why can’t you confirm my details using that information?
The details required for the Electoral Register are different from the details held on the Council Tax database.
I’ve responded, why have I received another form?
Your response may have been received after data has been produced and sent through to an external print company to print a reminder letter. We are unable to stop the additional letter being produced and sent out.
I have given you my name and nationality, is that all I need to do?
If you are registering as a new elector at the property, you will need to provide additional information to complete your registration. If you reply to the Canvass Communication online you will be redirected to www.gov.uk/register-to-vote Alternatively, an Invitation to Register will be posted out to you.
Why do you need my National Insurance number?
Since 2014, when you register to vote at a property as a new elector you must provide your date of birth and National Insurance number. These details are then verified using a national database to confirm your information, once confirmed you will be added to the electoral register on the next update.
I don’t have a National Insurance number, can I still register to vote?
When you complete your application to register, you can provide a reason for not having a National Insurance number. When we receive your application we will contact you and let you know what else we can accept.