As part of the annual electoral canvass, Electoral Services will be contacting all residential properties in Lambeth to ensure that voter details for each property are correct.
Electoral Services have sent a canvass notification letter to all residential properties. The type of letter you receive will tell whether or not you need to respond.
Do I need to respond to the canvass communication I’ve received?
You must respond to your canvass communication if:
- The communication you receive states that you must respond
- Any information on the form is incorrect (such as your name or nationality)
- Someone is eligible to register to vote at your address whose name is not included on the form you have received
- A named person listed on the form we have sent you no longer resides at the property
How can I respond?
The quickest and easiest way to respond is online at: householdresponse.lambeth.gov.uk
You will need to enter the two-part security code that is printed on your form. Anyone in your household can respond.
What happens if I don’t respond?
If you fail to respond to a canvass communication you have received that requires a response, we will need to make a personal visit to your property to confirm voter details. If we are unable to get a response, voter details for your address may not be correct for the Lambeth Council elections in May 2026.
Please help us save time and Council funds by responding as quickly as possible to avoid a household visit.
Why is being registered to vote Important?
- You can only vote at elections if you are registered
- Being registered to vote can help to improve your credit score
For further details visit lambeth.gov.uk/vote
Is your postal vote due to expire?
The Elections Act 2022 changed the law covering voting by post at elections. It’s no longer possible to have a permanent postal vote arrangement. The maximum period a postal voting arrangement can last is now 3 years. After this, postal votes must be renewed, or they will automatically expire.
All Lambeth postal voters who made their current application before 31 October 2023 must make a new application by 31 January 2026 if they wish to continue voting by post.
How will I know if my postal vote is due to expire?
If your postal vote is due to expire, we will contact you by letter from 29 August 2025.
Information on the household canvass form sent to your address in September 2025 will tell you if your postal vote is due to expire.
We will also be sending email and text reminders throughout the renewal period.
How can I renew my postal vote?
The quickest and easiest way to renew is to apply for a new postal vote is at gov.uk/apply-postal-vote
As part of your application, you will be required to upload a photo of your handwritten signature in black ink on plain white paper.
If you cannot provide a signature, or one that always looks the same, you may be able to apply for a postal vote signature waiver. For more information get in touch with the Electoral Services team via our Contact Us page at lambeth.gov.uk/vote
If you can’t apply online, you can request a paper form by phoning us on 020 7926 2254.
What happens if I don’t reapply?
If you haven’t reapplied by 31 January 2026 your postal vote will be automatically cancelled. This means you won’t have a postal vote in place for the Lambeth Council elections in May 2026.
Please note that if your postal vote is cancelled because you have not reapplied by 31 January 2026, you can still reapply after that date at gov.uk/apply-postal-vote
You can apply for a new postal vote up to 5pm, 11 working days before an election.
Find out more at lambeth.gov.uk/vote
