Don't miss out on chance to have your say

Are you registered to vote?

Letters will soon be dropping across the Borough to ensure residents don't lose their right to have their say in elections.

All local authorities keep an electoral roll and this is updated annually through a canvass of all residential properties.

And this year's canvass letters are due to be arriving from Monday, August 15 until Wednesday, August 17.

Anyone registered to vote at an address should check their details and let Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council know about any changes.

If someone new has moved in to a property or someone has turned 16, they will need to apply to go on to the Electoral Register.

And from Monday, August 22, canvassers from the Council will begin visiting households where applications to go on the Electoral Register are required.

The Council officers will have ID with them at all times and will not ask to enter resident's homes.

Councillor Bob Cook, Leader of Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, said: "It's so important that everyone has a right to vote, but if you're not on the Electoral Register then you won't be able to do so.

"It is law that every individual has to provide the information we request, so please get it sent back as soon as you can.

"People who are most likely to be missing from the Electoral Register are those who have moved home in the last year, private and social housing tenants, and 16 and 17-year-olds.

"Although you cannot vote until you are 18, anyone aged 16 and over must also add their names to the register."

A new electoral register will be published on Thursday, December 1 2022 using information from this year's canvass.

For more information about registering to vote, visit the Council's register to vote web page or call the voter registration helpline on 01642 526196.

For Council news direct to your inbox sign up to our My Council Newsletter.