Information received from The Electoral Services Officer, Herefordshire Council:
This year’s Annual Canvass has started. Over the course of July we will be contacting all 89,000 households in Herefordshire to check their details for the Electoral Register, as required by law.
We will be sending over 50,000 communications via email and text message where possible, and posting out hardcopy forms as necessary.
Last year we received a number of queries as to the authenticity of the email domain. The email will arrive to electors from herefordshire.electoral.services@notifications.service.gov.uk and will contain a link directing them to the online web response (https:www.elecreg.co.uk/hfds-e). This email is genuine and the link is safe to click.
There will be two separate letters going out:
- One that requires a response under any circumstances. We believe there might be updates and changes in these households. For any households who do not initially respond, we will be chasing further – including sending a canvass form with a pre-paid envelope and, if no response, knocking on doors as necessary.
- One that requires a response ONLY if the details we already have are incorrect. We believe there are no changes to report in these households. This letter is only sent if we have been unable to get a response using emails and texts.
As a response is not necessarily required, all we are asking the public to do is to please read their correspondence carefully and follow the instructions.
We are of course promoting responses (where required) by internet but are well aware this is not for everybody, so we have telephone and SMS options for them.
We are grateful for any assistance you can give to any of our residents that might need help, and also with any wider publicity. You can also view the annual canvass FAQs at www.herefordshire.gov.uk/annualcanvass
Electoral Services can be contacted on 01432 260107 or canvass@herefordshire.co.uk with any issues.
Many thanks.