Cabinet Office
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News Release
Government Office
Bucks Road
Douglas
Isle of Man, IM1 3PN
Date: 3 April 2017
New ways to respond to annual update of electoral register
This year’s annual update of the Isle of Man electoral register will enable people to
confirm their household details within seconds if they have not changed.
Registration forms will be sent to all Island properties in the next few days in order to
collect the information required to maintain an accurate record of eligible voters.
For the first time, people will be able to respond online or via telephone or text if the
details printed on their forms remain unchanged.
The introduction of new ways of responding is aimed at making the annual canvass
simpler and more convenient for residents, as well as generating efficiencies for the
Government.
Electoral Registration Officer Della Fletcher explained: ‘An accurate electoral register is
important for the integrity of the Island’s democratic process and the annual canvass is
necessary to keep entries up to date. We need to confirm each year who lives at your
address and who is eligible to vote.’
She added: ‘The vast majority of households won’t have any changes to make to this
information. With this in mind, we have made it quicker and easier for people to confirm
that the details on their registration forms are correct. With a phone call, text or a few
clicks online, it can be sorted out in less than 60 seconds. This is a positive step and I
would encourage as many people as possible to contact us via their phones or devices.’
People who do need to notify the Electoral Registration Unit of a change in their
household’s circumstances should complete and sign the form and return it in the pre-paid
envelope provided.
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The annual update of the electoral register is necessary to capture changes of address and
any revisions to the list of householders eligible to vote or serve on a jury.
Residents are responsible for keeping their entries up to date and individuals cannot vote
in House of Keys or local authority elections unless they are on the register. Not being
registered can also affect a person’s credit reference history and result in an application
for a mortgage, loan or mobile phone contract being refused.
It is a legal requirement to respond to the annual canvass, even if an individual chooses
not to exercise their democratic right to vote.
Forms will be sent to all households currently listed on the electoral register and to ‘The
Occupier’ at properties with no registered electors.
The deadline for responses to the 2017 annual canvass is Saturday 17 June.
Further information about the electoral registration process and who is eligible to vote can
be found on the Government website or by contacting [email protected] or tel: 685754.
Ends
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Website: www.gov.im/co/
Twitter: @IOMGovernment
Media enquiries:
Kirsty Hemsley, Senior External Relations Officer, 685704
NOTES for Editors
People will be able to confirm if the pre-populated information on their electoral
registration form is correct by –
Internet: www.elecreg.co.uk/iom
Telephone (local rate): 0808 2841522
Text (SMS): 0778 6209403
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People will need to provide a two-part security code, which is printed on the form.
Computers are available for use at the Welcome Centre in Douglas for anyone who wishes
to respond online, but does not have access to the internet.
People who respond online or by phone or text, do not need to return the electoral
registration form.
Registration forms should be returned by post in the pre-paid envelope if people need to
change their details or if they do not wish to respond via the internet, phone or text.
In addition to the annual canvass the electoral register is also updated on a quarterly
basis, giving residents the opportunity to join the register throughout the year. As at
January 1 2017 there were a total of 59,329 electors on the register.
The Registration of Electors Act 2006 provides for fines of up to £1,000 for persons who
fail, without reasonable excuse, to provide the information required by the Electoral
Registration Officer or who provide false information.
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