Final Call for Voter Registration

South Tyneside Council is making a final call for people to ensure they are on the Electoral Register to help protect their right to vote.

Like local authorities across the country, the Council has a duty to maintain an accurate electoral register. A new Register of Electors is produced every year. The next Register will be used from 1 December 2020 to 30 November 2021.

As part of a drive to identify all those who are entitled to vote and to ensure they are on the Register of Electors, the Council's Elections Team has been contacting households across the Borough.

Now final reminder letters are being delivered next week to the residents who have not responded to the canvass forms, telephone calls, emails or text messages sent to them since July.

Once the letters have been received, local people are asked to respond online immediately using the web address and security codes printed on the letter.

Residents are reminded that responding to the letter does not automatically register new occupiers to vote. Any new occupiers, who are not already registered, will also need to apply to register to vote.

Those who respond online will be directed to go to the online voter registration site where they will be able to give all the details needed to apply to register to vote (including their date of birth and national insurance number). Those who do not go on to apply to register online will be sent an invitation to register form in the post.

Councillor Tracey Dixon, Deputy Leader of South Tyneside Council with responsibility for democratic renewal, said: "The Council has a duty to maintain an accurate electoral register and it is very important that all adults and young people over the age of 16 living in the Borough are on it.

"We would advise people to look out for the letter arriving and respond as soon as possible. They need to be on the Electoral Register to be able to vote in local and general elections and in referendums. Those who are not on the register are at risk of missing out on their chance to have their say on who represents them in Government."

For further information contact South Tyneside Council's Electoral Team on (0191) 424 7230 or email elections@southtyneside.gov.uk

More details about electoral registration in South Tyneside is available on the Council's website at www.southtyneside.gov.uk/elections Visit www.gov.uk/yourvotematters for further information about the electoral registration system.