Council and democracy

Remember to register

This week the forms will drop through the letterboxes of all 144,000 homes in the borough. The council is required to publish an updated Register of Electors at the beginning of December every year.

All British and Irish citizens and citizens of the other Commonwealth and European Union countries are eligible to vote but they must register first. By law, all residents must respond to the form even if they are already registered to vote or if no one at their address is eligible to vote. Residents could be fined up to £1,000 if they fail to do so.

Forms can be returned by post or fax, and if there are no changes to the information for their address they can respond by telephone or via the internet.

Reminder forms will be sent to all addresses that do not respond and electoral registration canvassers will be available in October to provide assistance in completing the forms.

The next scheduled elections are for the European Parliament on 4 June 2009. The date of the next Parliamentary election is not scheduled but it must take place by May 2010.

If residents do not register they will not be able to vote in any elections and they may experience problems in obtaining credit. By law, the credit referencing agencies are able to use the Register of Electors to verify people's addresses.

The revised Register of Electors will be published on 1 December 2008.

For more information and to obtain a registration form phone 020 8726 6300 or email electoral.services@croydon.gov.uk.

Information about the Register of Electors and elections in Croydon can be found on the council's website at www.croydon.gov.uk/elections.