Sandwell residents are being warned not to lose their right to vote by completing their annual canvass form and returning it to the council as soon as possible.

With local elections taking place in May 2019, it's an important opportunity for residents to make sure they can continue to vote. Letters are being sent to every household in Sandwell over the next week to check who lives there and who is eligible to vote.

By responding to the letters, either to confirm the details are correct or to make changes, residents can ensure they can vote in future elections. It also means the council can remove people who have moved away from the electoral register. Being on the electoral register also has other advantages - if you're not registered to vote it can affect your credit rating. Sandwell Council's Chief Executive and Electoral Registration Officer, Jan Britton, said:

"It’s important that residents respond to these letters as soon as possible, so we can make sure we have the right details on the electoral register for every address in Sandwell.

"To make sure you are able to vote in future, simply check the form when it arrives and respond as soon as you can. All households must respond - even if they have no changes. You can do this online, by text or through an automated phone line - it's all in the letter you'll get through the door.”

People who have moved address recently are particularly encouraged to keep an eye out for the form and check the details. Research by the independent Electoral Commission indicates that recent home movers are far less likely to be registered than those that have lived at the same address for a long time.

Across Great Britain, 94% of people who have been at their property for more than sixteen years will be registered, compared to 40% of people who have lived at an address for less than one year.

People who are not already registered to vote can do so in five minutes online and anyone who has questions can contact the council's electoral services team on 0121 569 3244.