The electoral registration system is changing this summer

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045/14

Residents in East Cambridgeshire have made a great response to the biggest change to the electoral registration system in nearly 100 years.

Over the summer, homes across the district have received a letter explaining how the introduction of the new, more secure, system of Individual Electoral Registration.

Thousands have already responded by registering themselves to vote as individuals as opposed to the old Victorian system where the 'head of household' registered everyone living in a property.

Individual Electoral Registration (IER) gives people more control and ownership over the process and will increase the accuracy of the register - with the new system able to verify that everyone on the register is who they say they are.

Under the new system, around 80 per cent of those already on the electoral register will be automatically added after their name and address is matched against existing government records.

Those people who are not successfully matched may need to provide additional information to be registered, but thanks to the new online electoral registration system, this is now a quick and easy process that takes as little as three minutes.

John Hill, Chief Executive at East Cambridgeshire District Council, said: "The introduction of Individual Electoral Registration is one of the biggest changes we have ever seen to the way people register to vote and it is important people understand what is happening. Thousands of residents across the district have already responded to the letter they have received over the summer. Most people have been automatically transferred to the new register but if you have not been transferred, you will need to provide some additional information and the letter will tell you exactly what you need to do."

For more information visit gov.uk/yourvotematters or contact the team at the District Council on 01353 665555