Folk urged to return electoral registration forms
Around 3,000 households still need to return their electoral registration form, which they should have received over the past month.
Reminder forms have now been issued to all those who have not yet made a return.
Electoral registration officer Michael Forbes said: “Some people may not realise that you have to complete your electoral registration form every year. To date around 3,000 households have not returned their form and I am urging all those in Shetland receiving a reminder to return it as soon as possible.
“If your name is not on the register you will not be able to vote at any elections and may also find it difficult to obtain credit or open a bank account.”
For more information contact the electoral registration office on (01595) 745700 or email ero@shetland.gov.uk.
Andrew T Gibson
I can see why people are often late or do not return the forms at all, the electoral database is where the constant stream of cold calling from a broad range of telesales teams and fraudster originates.
Why don’t we have an electronic form to return in this day and age a simple email link to a website where tick boxes can be checked or additional details completed, surely its not rocket science and would increase the return rates, while costing very little.
Michael A Forbes
Andrew Gibson asks a valid question “Why don’t we have an electronic form return… for electoral registration”.
Electronic returns of electoral registration forms are to be incorporated into a new process of electoral registration being introduced by the UK Government as part of their switch over to individual electoral registration in 2014.
I would question whether or not this method of return will improve return rates as areas where this technique has been tried have found that it merely offers a wider choice of return methods to the electorate.
There is no question that electronic registering will greatly improve the system for the future.
Michael A Forbes
Electoral Registration Officer
10 October 2012