Every year we conduct a canvass of the residential households in Cambridge to make sure that the data we hold in the register of electors is correct and up to date.

The annual canvass

The annual canvass takes place each year from late July to mid-November.

Before we start canvassing properties, we match the data held in the register against data held by the Department for Work and Pensions and other council departments to see who is still resident. This means we only need to target households where we believe people have moved in or out.

We send a letter, email, or text to households we believe are the same as the previous year. If you get a letter, you only need to respond if the information is incorrect. If you get an email or text, then you must respond so that we know there is still a link from that email or mobile number to your address.

We send a letter to households we believe might have changed since last year and ask them to confirm who is resident at the address, whether the information is correct or not. If we have an email address or mobile number for these properties, we may send a reminder this way.

When we have contacted households, our electoral canvassers visit those who were asked to respond but did not. If we hold a telephone number for somebody at the address, we might also try to telephone you to establish who lives there.

The electoral register

There are two versions of the register: the full ‘electoral’ register and the edited ‘open’ register.

Both registers are held at our office in Mandela House, Regent Street and can be inspected by anyone. However, please do contact us to make an appointment to view either register, so that we can ensure someone is available to help you.

The full electoral register

The full register is used for electoral purposes, such as making sure only eligible people can vote and for political parties to send you information before an election.

It also has other limited purposes such as preventing and detecting crime and checking credit and loan applications.

• Guide to how the full and open registers are used [PDF, 74Kb]

The open register

The open register is an extract of the full register that can be bought by any person, company or organisation. Your name and address will be included in the open register unless you ask for them to be removed.

• Remove your details from the open electoral register
• Guide to how the full and open registers are used [PDF, 74Kb]

For more information on purchasing the open register, please email elections@cambridge.gov.uk.

Objections

Entries on the register or applications for registration (except anonymous registrations) can be objected to by any elector who is registered in that area.

• Object to an entry on the electoral register

Statistics

The current register of electors for Cambridge was published on 1 February 2025, with 89,207 electors registered to vote.