Bin tags highlight changes to Electoral Registration

Over the summer, all Stratford-on-Avon District residents will receive a letter through the post telling them about the biggest change to the electoral registration system in nearly 100 years.

Stratford-on-Avon District Council's Electoral Registration Officer is writing to 98,000 residents and 5,000 households across the District. The letter will explain that a new, more secure, system of Individual Electoral Registration (IER) is being introduced to replace the old Victorian system where the 'head of household' registered everyone living in a property. Now, each individual will be responsible for registering themselves.

As well as the letters and an article in the District Council's resident's magazine, Stratford View the District Council is also using bin tags to help publicise the changes.

Darren Whitney, Stratford-on-Avon District Council's Democratic Services Manager says: “Most people will not notice the change as the current register will be matched against other public databases and if you have been matched, you will receive a confirmation letter in August.  However, if your records do not match, you will receive a letter asking you to complete the new individual form.

“The introduction of the new system has two major benefits in that by asking for identifying information such as date of birth and National Insurance numbers, we can verify everyone on the register is who they say they are.  This creates a register which reduces the risk of fraud or duplication and eradicates redundant entries.

“Equally some people - such as those in shared housing or students who move regularly - might not realise a form has been delivered to their home and by targeting people individually, we can help bring electoral registration into the modern age.

“IER will be more accurate than ever and we can be sure every individual who is entitled to vote can do so."

Over the next couple of weeks the District Council's Refuse and Recycling contractors, Biffa, will be distributing the new bin tags onto the wheelie bins across Stratford-on-Avon District.  The tags are made out of card from sustainable resource forests with a message about the changes to the Electoral Registration System taking place this summer and reminding residents about the importance of registering and how to do it.

It is important to note that if you have a confirmation letter there is nothing else for you to do.

For more information please visit www.gov.uk/yourvotematters