Watch out for changes to how you register to vote

Individual Electoral Registration (IER), which came into effect on September 19, replaces the household registration system that has existed for almost a century with a requirement to register individually.

Over 520,000 people in Lanarkshire will receive a letter informing them of the change to the registration system.

Many Lanarkshire residents will automatically move onto the new electoral register.

However, some will need to take action to join or remain on it, which they will now be able to do online for the first time.

Lanarkshire residents will receive a letter explaining the changes to the electoral registration system, and telling them if they have been automatically transferred to the new register or not.

If they have not been transferred, they will need to provide some additional information and the letter will tell them exactly what they need to do. Canvassers will also be active across Lanarkshire throughout the duration of the change to ensure that as many people as possible are registered under the new system.

In addition, the Electoral Commission will be running a public awareness campaign during the transition period to highlight these changes to all electors across Scotland.

For more information about the changes, visit www.gov.uk/yourvotematters. If Lanarkshire residents do not receive a letter about the changes, they should contact the Lanarkshire Electoral Registration Office on 0800 030 4333 or by email at [email protected]