Don’t lose your vote – important reminder to check your voter registration details
Peidiwch â cholli’ch pleidlais – neges bwysig i’ch atgoffa i wirio’ch manylion cofrestru pleidleisiwr
Pembrokeshire residents are being urged to check their electoral registration details or risk losing their chance to vote on decisions that affect them.
The annual canvass allows Pembrokeshire County Council to keep the electoral register up to date, to identify who risks losing their voice at elections, and to encourage them to register before it’s too late.
More people can vote in Welsh elections than ever before, so this is an important opportunity to update the electoral register.
Anyone aged 16 or over can vote in Welsh Local Government and Senedd elections, regardless of where they were born.
Will Bramble, Electoral Registration Officer at Pembrokeshire County Council said: “The annual canvass is our way of making sure that the information on the electoral register for every address is accurate and up to date.
“To make sure you don’t lose your say at upcoming elections, simply follow the instructions sent to you.
“If you want to register, the easiest way is online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.”
Recent home movers in particular are urged to check their details.
Included with your canvass letter is information about the legal requirement to show photo identification (ID) when voting at a polling station at some elections.
Anyone who does not have an accepted form of photo ID can apply for a free voter ID document, known as a Voter Authority Certificate.
More information is available via The Electoral Commission website.
Head of the Electoral Commission Wales, Rhydian Thomas, said: “It doesn’t matter where you were born, if you are 16 or over, you are able to vote in Welsh elections – but only if you register to vote first.
“It’s really important that everyone who is eligible to vote is able to do so. We urge people to check for updates from their local council on this year’s canvass.”
Notes to editors
Notes to editors
- The Representation of the People Act 1983 places a duty on electoral registration officers to maintain the electoral register for their area and to conduct an annual canvass of all residential properties.
- The electoral register lists the names and addresses of everyone who is registered to vote. The register is used for electoral purposes, such as making sure only eligible people can vote. It is also used for other reasons as specified in law, such as detecting crime (e.g. fraud), calling people for jury service or checking credit applications.
- The open register is an extract of the electoral register, but is not used for elections. It can be bought by any person, company or organisation. For example, it is used by businesses and charities to confirm name and address details. Your name and address will be included in the open register unless you ask for them to be removed. Removing your details from the open register does not affect your right to vote.
- To be eligible to register to vote a person must be:
- aged 14 or over (a person may register to vote at 14, but may not vote until they are 16 for Senedd and council elections and aged 18 for UK Parliament elections)
- a British, Irish, EU or other foreign citizen who has leave to enter and remain in the UK or does not require such leave
- EU nationals legally resident in the UK may currently register to vote in all elections. The Elections Act 2022 will change the eligibility of some EU citizens to vote in UK Parliament and Police and Crime Commissioner elections in Wales.
- The changes in voting rights for EU nationals will not affect voters from Cyprus, Malta and Ireland.
- Full details on who can vote in elections in Wales can be found on the Electoral Commission’s website.
- Full details of the Electoral Commission’s research on the electoral registers can be found on its website.