Annual Household Canvass
The Annual Canvass of the Electoral Register started on 1 July 2025. We are sending canvass emails to residents. Find out how to check that your email is genuine.
The Annual Canvass is a process that each local authority undertakes annually to update the Electoral Register. The Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) is legally required to keep the register of eligible voters up to date.
From July, we will contact every household in the borough to check that the details on the Electoral Register are correct.
The type of contact you receive will depend on the information we have available for the property. You must respond to us as soon as possible to confirm or change your details.
Respond online
The fastest and easiest way to confirm or change your details is online. You will need:
- the two security codes you received in our communication
- the names and nationalities of anyone eligible to vote at your property
- your postcode
You do not need to give us your contact details, but it will help us if there is a problem with your form. We will only use your details for the registration process. We follow strict GDPR rules to protect your information.
You may be removed from the register if you do not respond, and it could impact your credit score.
How we will contact you
Where possible, we will use email rather than post to contact you about the Annual Canvass. The email was sent by:
- electoral.services.maidstone.borough.council@notifications.service.gov.uk
- the subject of the email is 'Maidstone Borough Council - Check and update your details on the Electoral register now - ACTION REQUIRED'
If we do not have an email address, or you do not reply to our email, we will send a letter. You can help us minimise costs by responding to our email as soon as possible.
If you do not respond, we may contact you by:
- telephone
- visiting your property
- email or post
Tell us about changes to your household
When you complete the canvass response, you can tell us if someone has:
- left the household
- joined the household
- reached the age of 16
- passed away
Residents new to your household need to register on the register to vote website. If they do not, we will send an invitation in the post.
After reviewing your information, we will send:
- a letter to anyone who wishes to change their opt-out status on the electoral register
- a letter to anyone who no longer lives at the property to confirm the change
- a postal/proxy vote application form if requested
- an invitation to register for new eligible residents
Moving house
You should respond to the canvass communication even if you are due to move house. When your address changes, you need to apply to register at your new address. Each eligible person at the new property will need to complete the application form.
Problems with your form
You can email electoralservices@maidstone.gov.uk if:
- the address on the form is different from your property address
- the form was delivered to the wrong address
- your postcode was wrong or different
We may share your details with our street name and numbering team to resolve any address problems.