Harrow has become the first council in the country to introduce online electoral registration in a move to modernise and cut costs.

Letters sent out to voters from this month will include a 11-digit security code to allow people to register online, instead of returning the paper form. Anyone preferring to use the paper system will still be able to.

The council hopes the move will save money by reducing postage costs, as well as prepare people for compulsory individual voter registration, set to be introduced in 2014.

Legislation is currently going through Parliament to scrap the current system where the head of a household completes a form stating the number of voters in a property. The Government hopes this will tackle electoral fraud and provide a more accurate register.

Councillor Graham Henson, cabinet member for customer services, said: “Harrow is the first council in the country to enable residents to change their electoral registration details securely online, without the need for a signature, which could have a long lasting impact on UK democracy.”

The Electoral Commission has been calling for a switch to individual voter registration since 2003. But critics claim the reforms could mean fewer people registered to vote, leaving some disenfranchised.

People who do not sign up face civil penalties, similar to parking tickets, for breaching the rules.