Delivering the annual canvass - England

What are the communications options for the first contact attempt?

The first contact attempt must be to a property, not an individual.1

The communication options open to you for a property contact are:2  

• Canvass Communication B (CCB)
• Canvass Form
• Visit to the property (i.e. a door knock)

What is Canvass Communication B?

While legislation does not provide detail about what the CCB3 must include in the way that it does for the prescribed CCA (used for Route 1 properties) and Canvass Form, it does require you to use the version designed by the Electoral Commission.

Canvass Communication B:

• Is a paper form 
• Can be used as an alternative to the Canvass Form (notwithstanding that one of the three contact attempts required to complete Route 2 where no response is received must be by way of a Canvass Form)
• Does not require a pre-paid return envelope to be included
• Encourages a response to be made via alternative response channels to post – either online or through a telephone response service
• Requires a response even if no changes are required at the property
• Requires follow up action if no response is received within a reasonable timeframe

What is a Canvass Form?

The legislation requires you to use the Canvass Form designed by the Electoral Commission.4

The Canvass Form:

• Is a paper form 
• Must be accompanied by a pre-paid return envelope5
• Must be delivered to a property at some point in the Route 2 contact process, unless a response has already been received from the property 
• Encourages electors to respond with updated details of the residents at the property
• Requires a response even if no changes are required at the property
• Requires follow up action if no response is received within a reasonable timeframe

We provide more guidance to help you with production of the CCB and Canvass Form in our forms and letters guidance.