Every year, we check the information on the Electoral Register to make sure it’s accurate. This is called the Annual Canvass.
Central Government has reformed the way the Annual Canvass is conducted; every household will receive some form of communication but unlike in previous years you may not have to make a return to the form sent to your property.
From the beginning of September 2025, a communication will be delivered to every property in Stoke-on-Trent.
For properties where everyone in the household matched with Government records, anyone already registered at the address will be listed on the form and if everything on the letter is correct you don't have to do anything. That's it, canvass complete.
If things have changed, such as another person coming to live at or someone leaving the property, just follow the instructions on the letter to make the changes.
Please read your letter carefully as you may be required to respond.
Where one or more persons did not match the records held with Central Government records, we will require confirmation that the information held on the electoral register is correct. Someone in the household must respond to this letter.
The easiest and safest way is by going online, this only takes a few minutes.
Use this link www.householdresponse.com/stokeontrent with the security codes in your correspondence to make any changes online.
Adding a name in this way is not a registration, to register any new people at the property they will need to go to www.gov.uk/registertovote
The telephone and SMS service are for no changes and only allow you to confirm the details printed on the form they have received are correct.
- Telephone Number – 0800 8840701
- Text Number – 80212
If you have received a Canvass Form you have the option to complete in pen, sign it and return by post. We are however, discouraging this method as the other methods work out cheaper for the Council.
It is extremely important that if your letter asks you to respond that you do it as quickly as possible. This means:
- It will save money for your council by us not having to print and send required reminders
- We will not have to send out a canvasser (which legislation requires to do for non-responders) to your property
During the canvass period we will:
- Deliver canvass communications to all properties in Stoke-on-Trent
- Deliver a reminder to properties who have not responded where a response is required
- Send canvassers, where necessary and as a last resort, to properties to encourage residents to complete the forms
- Publish register on 1 December 2025
If you need to register to vote at a new address please visit www.gov.uk/registertovote.
If you have any queries you can email us at elections@stoke.gov.uk or phone our helpline on 01782 233800.