RESIDENTS across Basingstoke and Deane are being warned they could face a fine if they don’t respond to the annual voter registration canvass.

Over half of the 73,000 households across the borough have responded to a household enquiry form sent out by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council asking residents to update or confirm their details are correct on the electoral register.

Reminder letters have now been sent to homes who have not responded and these will be followed by door-to-door canvassing from October 15.

In addition, individual registration forms have been sent out to households who have already responded, acknowledging someone new is living at the property.

Those individuals will need to follow the instructions on the letter as soon as possible to appear on the electoral register and have the opportunity to vote.

Karen Brimacombe, the borough council’s electoral registration officer, said: “Already 65 per cent of the borough’s households have responded but there are still many more who need to confirm or update their details. This is a legal requirement and one that can result in a fine if the information is not received.

“We are urging people to respond to the reminder letters before we are required to send out canvassers to knock on doors to get this information. This is additional expense to the council and our council tax payers, and we encourage residents to help us to keep this to a minimum.”

The new register of electors will be published in December 2015. For more information call 01256 844844.