RESIDENTS in Alcester and surrounding villages are being informed of the changes to electoral registration through bin tags placed on wheelie bins throughout the district.

The new national government scheme will mean instead of the 'head of household' registering to vote each individual will be responsible for signing up themselves.

The tag incentive has been put on by Stratford-on-Avon District Council to explain why residents need to register and how to do it.

They are made using card from sustainable resource forests and will be distributed by the council’s refuse and recycling contractors Biffa.

This summer, the current register will be matched against other public databases and if successful a confirmation letter will be sent in August.

Those who receive a confirmation letter do not need to take any further action.

If the records do not match a letter will be sent asking for a completed individual form.

This is the biggest change to the electoral registration system nationally in nearly a century.

Darren Whitney, Stratford-on-Avon District Council’s democratic services manager, said: “The introduction of the new system has two major benefits in that by asking for identifying information such as date of birth and National Insurance numbers, we can verify everyone on the register is who they say they are. This creates a register which reduces the risk of fraud or duplication and eradicates redundant entries.

“Equally some people - such as those in shared housing or students who move regularly - might not realise a form has been delivered to their home and by targeting people individually, we can help bring electoral registration into the modern age.

“IER (Individual Electoral Registration) will be more accurate than ever and we can be sure every individual who is entitled to vote can do so.”

Letters and articles in the District Council’s residents’ magazine are also being used to publicise the new system.

For more information visit gov.uk/yourvotematters