HARLOW Council has been conducting its annual updating of the electoral register – however this year it is being done with a difference.

For the first time, canvassers have been going door to door using tablets to obtain the information required from households, so people don’t have to sign paper forms. This will lead to time and cost savings in the printing and postage of forms.

Canvassers are calling on residents who have not yet responded to a letter sent out earlier this year asking them to confirm their details or invite them to register to vote. Previously, names would have been added to a paper canvass form; the council would then post out an Invitation To Register form to those wishing to register to vote. Now, by using a tablet the canvasser can complete the whole process online, on the doorstep.

The council hopes to also use the tablets at other times of the year to fulfil legal requirements to make personal visits to those who have not responded to an invitation to register.

Councillor Russell Perrin, portfolio holder for finance and governance, said: “It makes perfect sense for the council to be making the move to paperless canvassing, as it is a quicker, cheaper and more convenient alternative to completing the canvassing process. We also hope that by engaging with residents in this way it will encourage more people to register to vote and take part in the democratic process.

“Residents will also find it much easier as there is no more waiting for paper forms to be sent through to them in the post. We are making technology work for residents and us, cutting down on the use of paper and simplifying the whole process.”

The easiest way to respond to the request for confirmation of details is online at www.householdresponse.com/harlow

If you need to register to vote, the easiest way to do this is at www.gov.uk/registertovote

The revised electoral register will be published on 1 December 2021 and the deadline to register for this is 22 November.