Annual canvass

We may send you an email about the annual canvass, rather than posting a paper form through your door. If you have provided us with your email address, we will use that to contact you from the start of July. Please follow the instructions on the email.

If you are contacted by email, you will have until Thursday 23 July 2026 to complete your submission.

To help you check if the email you receive is genuine, emails will be sent from electoral.services.solihull.council@notifications.service.gov.uk and will be titled ‘Annual Canvass – message from Solihull Council’.

If we don’t hold your email address, or if you haven’t responded to the email, a canvass form will be delivered to your property in August. Most canvass forms will be hand delivered by an Electoral Services Canvasser, but some areas will be delivered by post. 

During October and up until 13 November 2026, our Canvassers will be visiting properties who have not responded to the annual canvass. They will be asking you to check the information is correct even if you have recently registered to vote, the house is empty, or people have moved out.

If you have been asked to respond, the quickest and easiest way is online.

Respond to the annual canvass

You'll need the security codes that are printed on the letter or in the email. When logged in you should let us know whether the information is correct. If it isn't, you can update it. 

Not every property is required to respond. Please follow the instructions on the form you have received. 

If there are no changes to the information printed on the form and you cannot respond online, text NOCHANGE to 80212 followed by both parts of your security code or call 0800 8840701 and when prompted enter part 1 and 2 of your security code.

If the information printed on the letter isn't correct and you cannot respond online, make any changes in the table and post the form back to us or call us on 0121 704 6042.

If the information printed on the letter is correct, post the form back to us (please make sure that you have signed it).

If you haven't responded by October, you will receive a visit from one of our Canvassers. The information you provide about the residents of your household is the first step in the process and those who are not registered to vote will need to register themselves at www.gov.uk/registertovote or we will send them a form.

Your unique security code can be found printed on the letter sent through the post or in the email you have received.

You need to include the name and nationality of everyone aged 16 or over who lives at the property and is eligible to register to vote. 

If there are no eligible residents, you should state why this is the case.

Your son/daughter can register at their home address as well as their university address but must not vote more than once in the same election.

This means they can vote in local elections at both addresses if they are in different local government areas, but cannot vote at both addresses in a Parliamentary election.

Our Canvassers will be wearing a uniform with a Solihull Council logo and will carry a Solihull Council identity badge. 

They will make visits throughout the day and evening and during weekends and will be asking you to complete the information with them using a tablet device. They will never ask to enter your home. 

Canvassers will visit in October and November.

If a white card has been posted through your letterbox, it means you have missed a Canvasser calling at your door. 

They are calling as we need a response from the property for the annual canvass. Please follow the instructions on the card to respond.

If a blue card has been posted through your letterbox, it means you have missed a Canvasser calling at your door. 

They are calling for a response to your electoral registration application. You may have told us that you live at the property, however, you are now required to register to vote (which is a separate process). 

The quickest and easiest way to register to vote is online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote. You can also call us on 0121 704 6042.