Don’t lose your voice - residents in Highland and Western Isles urged to check their voter registration details are up to date

Scotland – annual canvass 2021

Issued on behalf of the Electoral Registration Officer for Highland and Western Isles

Local residents are being warned not to lose their voice on decisions that affect them by making sure their electoral registration details are up to date.

With elections taking place in Highland and Western Isles in May 2022, this is an important opportunity for residents to make sure they can take part.

The Electoral Registration Officer will be getting in touch with every household to check that the electoral register is up to date, and to identify any residents who should be registered but are currently missing. With all nationalities able to vote in local elections in Scotland, this will be an important opportunity to ensure these new voters can get onto the electoral register before next year’s local government elections.  

Bill Gillies, Electoral Registration Officer for Highland and Western Isles said:

“Residents need to keep an eye out for messages from the Highland & Western Isles Electoral Registration Office so we can make sure we have the right details on the electoral register for every address in these local authority areas and you are able to vote in any forthcoming elections. You might not have been able to vote before the extension of the voting rights last year, but you may be able to vote now – but only if you are registered”.

“If you’re not currently registered, your name will not appear in the messages we send. We will send you a form for you to respond to. If you want to register, the easiest way is online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote, or we’ll send you information explaining how to do this in the post.”

“As we carry out this important work to update the electoral register we continue to follow  public health guidelines, including respecting social distancing.”

People who have moved recently are also particularly encouraged to look out for the voter registration messages from the Highland & Western Isles Electoral Registration Officer and check the details. Research by the Electoral Commission indicates that recent home movers are far less likely to be registered than those who have lived at the same address for a long time. Across Great Britain, 92% of people who have been at their property for more than sixteen years will be registered, compared to 36% of people who have lived at an address for less than one year.

Andy O’Neill, Head of Electoral Commission in Scotland, said:

“It doesn’t matter where you were born. If you are aged 16 and over you are able to vote in elections in Scotland but only if you register to vote first. Checking the messages that you will get from your Electoral Registration Officer is the easiest way to see if you’re registered to vote. If you’re not, make sure you provide the necessary information to your Electoral Registration Officer when it is needed and register to vote online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.”

Information on registering to vote is available on the Electoral Commission website.

Any residents who have any questions can contact their local registration team at 0800 393 783.