With the annual voter registration canvass now underway, a form or letter will be sent to more than 300,000 households in Lanarkshire.

To ensure that residents are able to vote in any future elections, they should follow the guidance contained within the communication, which will indicate if a response is required or not.

Where a response is to be made, this can be done in a variety of ways, including a freephone or text service that is available where details on the form have not changed. There is also an online option where changes can be made.

The Electoral Registration Officer, Gary Bennett, said: “If a response is to be made, the use of a range of services such as online, telephone or text makes confirming details easy and saves the council money compared to the costs of returning the paper form through the post.

“However, if a response is required and it is not made, then there is a requirement to issue reminders and pursue the required information.”

A fine of up to £1000 may ultimately be imposed for failing to supply the information.

Residents should also remember that credit reference agencies use the electoral register as a check when assessing credit applications. Therefore, if people are not on the register, their ability to access credit may be affected.

Anyone with queries about the form can contact the Lanarkshire Electoral Registration office on 0800 030 4333.

The canvass will run from mid- August to mid-November and the revised register, which will include the names of all eligible electors who respond to the canvass, will be published on 1 December, 2020.