Annual Canvass 2024
The Annual Canvass is a process each local authority goes through every year to update the Electoral Register. Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) are legally required to keep the register of eligible voters up to date.
From July 2024, we will contact every household in the District to find out if the details on the electoral register are correct. The type of contact you receive depends on the information we hold for the property.
We may contact you by email, telephone or post.
You must reply if you are asked to do so.
Respond to the Annual Canvass online
You will be sent a letter or email that looks like the example shown on this page.
The law says you must respond to the annual canvass if you are asked to do so. The fastest way to respond is online. Complete the following steps:
- Click the link in the email or the button below to visit the Household Response website (www.householdresponse.com/horsham)
- The communication you receive contains two security codes. Enter both codes on the website to access your household details.
- Make any necessary changes and click Submit
We will send reminders to any households where we do not receive a response. We encourage everyone who must respond to do so as quickly as possible. Only one response per household is required.
By completing the registration process, you will ensure that you are entitled to vote in all upcoming elections.
Respond by telephone or text
To respond by telephone or text, follow the instructions on the form you receive. Depending on the data we hold for your property and whether you need to make changes, the telephone response will differ.
If you have any queries, or need assistance, please email elections@horsham.gov.uk or call 01403 215 126.
Why should I respond to the Annual Canvass?
The law says that you must respond to the annual electoral canvass, if you are asked to do so.
Do not register only when you need a mortgage or finance – due to statutory processes and timings that we must adhere to by law it can take several weeks before your entry is visible to credit agencies.
Don't delay - You can save time and expense to the taxpayer and avoid receiving reminders and personal visits by responding to the canvass form promptly after you have received it.
If you have not received a letter/form or any contact from us by mid-September or you have lost it, please contact us for help on 01403 215126 or 01403 215581 or email elections@horsham.gov.uk
Yes. You must list any children who will be 16 or older at the time you respond. Any children under the age of 16 should not be listed.
A person may have more than one home but owning a second property which is visited only for recreational purposes is unlikely to meet the residency qualification for registration. You need to consider if your 'main business of life' is conducted at the second property and how you divide your time between the two.
If you live on-site at a caravan park for 6 months of the year or more, you could qualify as resident there for electoral purposes. Only you can decide if you meet the residency qualification for registration - no-one else at the caravan park can decide that for you.
Students can register both at their home address and at their university address, therefore you do not have to remove them from the register at home.
Whether you are eligible to register to vote depends on various factors. Please visit our EU voter webpage for further information.
No. The Annual Canvass is not the same as registering to vote.
Once you have responded to the Annual Canvass, you will be able to Register to vote online.
The voter registration system cross-checks against the Annual Canvass, so you need to do both.
The data held by Council Tax does not include all of the information you are required to give when you register to vote therefore, we are unable to use that information to register you.
No, you must still respond to the Annual Canvass if asked to.
The law requires you to respond to the canvass, but it is your personal choice whether you use your right to vote or not. IF you do not register, you have no choice.
You will receive one of two forms, depending on the information we hold on your property.
The revised Register of Electors will be published by 1st December 2022 and you must respond no later than the 22nd November 2023 to be included.
Please reply promptly when you receive the form in July. You can save time and costs to the taxpayer and avoid receiving reminders and personal visits by responding to any letters or canvass form promptly.