It is the duty of each Electoral Registration Officer to conduct an annual canvass of properties within the area for which they act.  A register of electors enquiry form is delivered to every household at the end of August and it is a legal requirement that the information requested is provided by the current occupant(s).

If you don't respond to the canvass your name may be left out of the new version of the register, even though it may already be included in the current one.  If your name does not appear in the register it may affect any application you make for credit as credit reference agencies are allowed by law to have access to this information.