Electoral Registration inquiry launched by Levelling Up Committee

• Inquiry: Electoral Registration
• Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee

Research by the Electoral Commission from 2019 analysed electoral registers and found that 17% of eligible voters in Great Britain, as many as 9.4 million people, were either missing from the electoral register or not registered at their current address. The research also said that more than 1 in 10 of the (then current) entries on the registers were inaccurate.

The LUHC Committee’s inquiry will examine the challenges and debates surrounding the current system of electoral registration, what the UK could learn from countries with high levels of electoral registration and alternative registration systems, and the case for automatic or assisted systems of voter registration.

Chair's comment

Clive Betts, Chair of the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee, said:

“Research indicates that millions of people that are eligible to vote are not on the electoral register. This should be a major cause for concern. It is a major and basic flaw in our democratic system if many millions of our fellow citizens are not able to make their voice heard at election time.

“In our Committee inquiry, we are keen to explore what steps can be taken to boost voter registration, including examining models used in other countries where they have more success in registering eligible voters.”

Electoral Registration inquiry – inquiry terms of reference

The Committee welcomes evidence submissions on the terms of reference outlined below. The closing date for submissions is Monday 6 February.

Evidence sessions for the inquiry are likely to begin in March.

The Committee invites written evidence in response to the following questions:

• What are advantages and disadvantages of the existing system of electoral registration?
• How does the system of Individual Electoral Registration compare to an automatic or assisted system of voter registration?
• Which countries have high levels of electoral registration, and what lessons can the UK learn from these electoral registration systems?

Data Issues

• How can existing public data and digital methods be better utilised to create a more joined up electoral registration system?
• What issues exist regarding cyber security, data and privacy, and how can these concerns be addressed?
• What issues do electoral registration officers face in relation to electoral data, including access to and sharing of data?
• Impact on Local Authorities
• What are the challenges presented by event-led registration, and what additional burdens does this place on local authorities?
• How have the changes introduced by the Elections Act 2022 impacted on electoral registration officers? For example, has this introduced additional administrative burdens on EROs specifically, or local authorities more generally?
• How best can Government support local authorities to alleviate additional burdens and improve accuracy and completeness of their registers?

Annual Canvass

• Have the Government’s recent reforms done enough to improve the annual canvass process, or are further changes required?

Engagement and accessibility issues

• What are the barriers to eligible electors registering to vote?
• Why are there so many inaccurate entries and duplications on the register? How can they be rectified in a cost-effective manner?
• How can resources be better targeted to ensure better engagement and accessibility for certain demographics?

Further information

• About Parliament: Select committees
• Visiting Parliament: Watch committees

Image: PA/Rui Vieir