Between mid-June and November, we conduct the Annual Canvass of all households in the Borough. The Annual Canvass is carried out in order to ensure that everyone who is eligible to vote is included on the electoral register so they can take part in elections.

We need to find out if there are any changes to the household so that details of people who no longer live at a property can be removed and any new occupants added can register individually and updates made to the current details i.e. name change.

If you have not registered to vote at all before or have moved address, please register online at GOV.UK - register to vote as soon as possible, as well as returning any form you receive.

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

Please provide an e-mail address and/or telephone number when you register online or when you respond to the annual canvass - this will be used for Electoral Services purposes only.

What type of Canvass Communication will you receive?

Matched Properties - Emails and Canvass Communication - CCA

If the details we hold about you and your property are matched with data held by the Government, along with your email address that we hold, then you will receive an email from us, which you must respond to.

For electors with no email address or non-responders from our email, you will be sent a paper communication that does not require a response if there are no changes to the details that are pre-printed on the form.

Unmatched properties - Canvass Communication CCB

If the details do not match, you will be sent a canvass form which you must respond to.

Please make sure that you respond correctly to the communication you receive as soon as you can, even if there are no changes to be made to the pre-printed details on the form. It is a legal requirement, and you can be fined up to £1,000 for not doing so.

In order to help the Council to save money, please complete all details online or return your form as soon as possible. We are required to contact the property in person or by email/telephone to obtain the information.

Invitation to Register

If you tell us there are new people eligible to be registered and they do not register to vote online by visiting register to vote which is quicker and more secure, after a short period we will send them an Invitation to Register (ITR) paper form. This form invites that person to apply to register to vote. ITR forms ask you to provide your date of birth, National Insurance number and Nationality. If you wish your details to be opted out of the open register to keep your details private.

Please read all of the information included on the form. If you still need advice, please contact the Electoral Services team by email elections.office@bexley.gov.uk or phone 020 8303 7777.

The Register of Electors is often used to confirm an individual’s address, especially if they are applying for credit such as a mortgage, personal loan or even a mobile phone. If you are not registered, you will lose your right to vote at the time of an election.

The next scheduled Elections are the Local Council Elections, to be held on 7 May 2026. Voters are required to show photographic identification at the polling station before casting their vote​​​​​​.

Postal Voting – if you currently have a postal vote you and are required to renew it by 31 January 2026, we are in the process of contacting you individually.

If you want to apply for a postal vote, you can do this by visiting apply for postal vote or by downloading an application form from The Electoral Commission. If you are unable to go on-line then please contact us.