What is the annual canvass?

Each year, by law, we conduct an annual canvass of the borough in order to update the electoral register. This is to find out if there are any changes to the household so we can remove the details of people who no longer live there and invite new occupants to register individually.

The way in which the annual canvass is undertaken has changed across the UK. The aim of this is to streamline the process in order to make it easier for residents, whilst still ensuring the completeness and accuracy of the Electoral Register. As part of this, we use data and electronic communication, such as email and text messaging, to make the process simpler.

The reformed canvass process will start with an initial data matching exercise between national data (held by the Department of Work and Pensions) and some local data. From there, different correspondence will be sent to households where the data has matched and to those where there was no match (either a no match or partial match).

What happens if the data matches?

All individuals registered in these households and for who have a valid email address and/or mobile telephone number will be sent an email/SMS that requires a response.

  • Emails are sent with a subject of -‘Act now so London Borough of Bromley can check who is eligible to be registered to vote at your address.’ and are sent from - london.borough.of.bromley.electoral.services@notifications.service.gov.uk
  • Text messages are sent with the first line ‘London Borough Bromley – Electoral Services:’ and are sent from Electoral
  • Both communications direct electors to www.householdresponse.com/Bromley and there you will asked to enter the codes provided and the postcode of your property

Please be assured that these communications are genuine

Those households that do not respond and those that contain registered electors without a valid email address/mobile telephone number will be sent a (green) paper form. This form only requires a response if there are changes to be made. Following this, no further communication is sent to the household.

What happens if there is no match?

The property will be sent a (yellow) paper form which you must respond to, whether there are changes to make or not.

Please make sure that you respond correctly to the communications you receive as soon as you can, even if there are no changes to be made to the pre-printed details. It is a legal requirement and you can be fined up to £1000 for not doing so. This will also help us save money, as if you do not respond we are required to send a reminder form and undertake personal visits to obtain the information. 

Responding to this year's annual canvass

Please consider responding online, by telephone or by text message wherever possible.

What do I need to do?

To respond you need to make a note of your security code on the correspondence you receive and choose one of the options below.

If you receive a yellow form and all the details remain the same you must confirm this by either:

  • Visiting www.householdresponse.com/bromley or
  • Calling 0800 197 9871 or
  • Texting NOCHANGE followed by both parts of your security code to 80212 (charges may apply)

If the details require updating (irrespective of the form or email you receive), or someone needs to be added or removed you need to let us know by:

Alternatively, you may complete the form and post it back to Civica Election Service, 33 Clarendon Road, London, N8 0NW. However it will save the council money if you use one of the above options, especially in the current situation regarding Coronavirus.

Registering to vote

Please note that the forms are not registration forms. Anyone added to the details pre-printed on the form will also need to register individually online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

Registering to vote means you have a right to vote in elections and can also improve your credit rating.  

 More information about registering to vote.