RESIDENTS of Wyre Forest who are not registered to vote will receive a visit from Wyre Forest District Council in the next few weeks.

Starting this week, canvassers have been knocking on doors to encourage local residents to sign up to the new Individual Electoral Registration (IER) system.

Changes to the electoral registration system were made nationally earlier this year to make the voting system more secure and reduce the chance of electoral fraud.

As part of the IER, everyone is responsible for registering themselves, rather than the old system which allowed one person to register everyone who lived at their address.

Even though the vast majority of Wyre Forest residents received notification in August that they had been automatically moved to the new electoral register, 6,000 residents were asked to take action to join or remain in the register, which not all have done.

Ian Miller, district council returning officer, said: “If you are not on the electoral roll you will not be able to vote in local and national elections. This may also impact on your ability to get credit.

“I would urge everyone who received a letter in August that asked them to take action to register, to do so as soon as possible.”

For more information contact the Elections Team on 01562 732794 or by email at electoral@wyreforestdc.gov.uk. To register to vote visit gov.uk/register-to-vote