The annual canvass to update the Register of Electors
The Council is updating the Register of Electors to be used from 1 February 2025 to 30 November 2025.
Letters were delivered the last week of August and first week of September to residents in South Tyneside to confirm who should be registered to vote at their address.
The letter lists all the people living at the property that we currently have on the register of electors.
The Electoral Registration Officer is required by law to follow up the letters that told people they must respond by either contacting residents by email or telephone, if we have contact details, or by visiting their home to collect the information needed.
The Electoral Registration Team tried to make personal contact with residents who needed to respond to our letters but had not yet done so during October.
Where contact could not be made, the letters were posted and calling cards were left at the address.
Final reminder letters will be posted around 16 December to the homes of people who have not responded, where required, to the letters, canvass forms, email, text or telephone call they have received since August.
Once the reminder letters have been received, residents are asked to check the information printed on them and respond immediately, even if there are no changes to make.
If you don't receive a reminder letter and there have been changes to the residents at your address in the past 12 months, contact us on 0191 427 7000 to check if the register needs to be updated.
What you need to do
You should check the details on your letter carefully. You should respond if:
- there are any changes to make
- the letter tells you to respond
Residents that have moved house recently are encouraged to check the details on their letter to see if they need to register to vote at their new address and to make sure their name is deleted from their previous address.
We encourage online responses, where you can:
- amend a name
- add the names and nationality of any new occupants
- remove the names of those who no longer live at the address
- confirm there are no changes needed
- request a postal vote application form
- make changes to the open register
Other ways to respond are listed on the letter, or you can call the Council's Contact Centre on 0191 427 7000 to update your details.
Responding to the letter does not automatically register new occupiers to vote. Any new occupiers, who are not listed on the letter, will need to apply to Register to vote.
For information for residents in care homes, see Registering to vote as a care home resident .