What happens at canvass time?

What is the canvass?

Each year the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) has a legal requirement to conduct an annual canvass to ensure the electoral register is accurate and complete. The annual canvass was reformed by the Cabinet Office in 2020. They set new instructions for the ERO to follow and these instructions are set in law.

How does the canvass work?

Step 1: Data Matching

• The Electoral Register is sent securely to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) database to be matched with their records in July. Electors names and addresses will be matched against National Insurance details and other information held by the DWP. In addition to this the ERO can use local data (such as Council Tax records) to carry out a local data matching exercise as well.
• If all the people registered to vote at the property can be matched with either of these databases the property will be sent down the Route 1 canvass path.
• If there are any people at a property that cannot be matched then the property will be sent down the Route 2 canvass path.
• Care homes, nursing homes and all other properties that have a responsible person (e.g. a Duty Manager) will be sent down the Route 3 canvass path.

Step 2: Routes of Communication

Route 1

• If we hold an email address for you, we will send you an email to confirm that the details we hold for the property are correct. If changes need to be made you will be asked to do this.
• Please check your spam and junk folders for the email and move it to your inbox before responding.
• Canvass emails will be sent from the elections@breckland.gov.uk email address.
• Within the email there will be a web address to access your property details - www.householdresponse.com/breckland
• You will receive two security codes in the email. These are used to log in and identify your property.
• After logging in you will be able to confirm the details we hold for the property are correct or make changes to the details we hold for the property.
• If we do not hold an email address for you, or we do not receive a response from that email, we will send the property a form with the elector details listed on it. If the elector details are correct you do not need to do anything more. If you need to add or remove someone from the property or make any other changes, go to the website address and use the security codes on the form to log in and complete the change.
• If you are having problems logging in and identifying your property it could be because you have recently moved and the email holds details for your previous property or it could be because the postcode held on the electoral register is different to the postcode you are using.
• If you do not wish to respond online and you have no changes to submit you can call 0800 197 9871 or text 80212 for the automated response service. 
• If you do not wish to respond online and you have changes to make you can post the form back to us addressed to Electoral Registration Officer, Breckland Council, Elizabeth House, Walpole Loke, Dereham, Norfolk, NR19 1EE

Route 2

• We will send a form to the property through the post which will have elector details listed on it if we are aware of registered electors. A blank form will be sent if no one is registered to vote at the property.
• We need a response from this form even if there are no changes to report.
• If you would like to add or remove someone from the property or make any other changes, go to the website address and use the security codes on the form to log in and complete the change.
• If you do not wish to respond online and you have no changes to submit you can call 0800 197 9871 or text 80212 for the automated response service. 
• If you do not wish to respond online and you have changes to make you can post the form back to us addressed to Electoral Registration Officer, Breckland Council, Elizabeth House, Walpole Loke, Dereham, Norfolk, NR19 1EE
• If we do not receive a response from the form we send we will make every attempt to get a response from you. This may be by sending reminder forms, by telephone or by a visit to your property.

Route 3

• Care Managers or Duty Managers will be sent a form for the property with a list of electors registered to vote at the address. 
• We need a response from this form even if there are no changes to report.
• If you would like to add or remove someone from the property or make any other changes, go to the website address and use the security codes on the form to log in and complete the change.
• If you do not wish to respond online and you have no changes to submit you can call 0800 197 9871 or text 80212 for the automated response service. 
• If you do not wish to respond online and you have changes to make you can post the form back to us addressed to Electoral Registration Officer, Breckland Council, Elizabeth House, Walpole Loke, Dereham, Norfolk, NR19 1EE
• If we do not receive a response from the form we send we will make every attempt to get a response from you. This may be by sending reminder forms, by telephone or by a visit to the property.

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