Annual canvass forms have been sent out to all residents in the borough to ensure that the electoral register is up to date and identify any residents who are not registered.

Epsom and Ewell Council is urging residents to look out for their forms in the post and check and update their information as soon as possible as instructed by the law.

The annual canvass is a review of the electoral register which the council must carry out every year and helps to identify any residents which are not registered preventing them from voting in any elections.

It is a requirement by law to complete and return the form even if you are not eligible to vote in the UK and failure to return the completed form is an offence which could include a fine of up to £1,000.

Research by the independent Electoral Commission indicates that recent home movers are far less likely to be registered than those that have lived at the same address for a long time.

The council has also advised that if you're not on the register, you may find it difficult when applying for mortgages, loans, insurance or credit, as credit reference agencies use the register to check addresses of applicants.

Registering to pay council tax does not automatically register you to vote.