Every household in Uttlesford will receive a letter aimed at encouraging all eligible electors to register to vote ahead of the general election.

On May 7, the election for the Saffron Walden constituency will be combined with the election of all 39 district and 442 parish and town councillors throughout the Uttlesford district.

It is therefore important that all residents check the letter carefully to see whether they are already registered to vote and note what steps they need to follow to register if they are not already.

The system of electoral registration in the UK changed in 2014 from the old household based system to place the onus on individuals to register themselves.

The new system – called Individual Electoral Registration (IER) – is intended to ensure greater security for voter registration by requiring applicants to supply their national insurance number and date of birth.

This information is checked against records held by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and once all details are matched the application can then be approved.

The majority of electors’ details match against that check but in a small number of cases it is necessary to write to electors asking for further information to be supplied before the register application can be verified and approved.

As a result of the way the new system was introduced, it has become apparent that some categories of elector are underrepresented on the register.

This is because about 85 per cent of electors were registered automatically after their details had been successfully matched with DWP records and were not required to register under IER.

Those residents who may not be registered are:

• Anyone who has moved house during 2014 or early this year and has not already registered under IER

• Young people who are already 18 or who will become 18 during this year

• Students, or anyone working away from home for lengthy periods

Please check carefully to ensure that you are registered to vote at your existing address. If your name is not listed on the Confirmation of Voter Registration letter and you live at the address to which it is addressed you should take immediate steps to register your name.

This can be done either by registering online at gov.uk/register-to-vote or by contacting the electoral office at elections@uttlesford.gov.uk or on 01799 510300 or 510554.

To be registered in time to vote at the general and local elections, you must have submitted an application by no later than Monday April 20.