Commons Sense

House of Commons · General Debate

Automatic Electoral Registration

03 February 2016 · 1 other contributor

Opened by Siobhain McDonagh Lab Mitcham and Morden

Democracy & Elections

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Siobhain McDonagh raised concerns about automatic electoral registration in the House of Commons. Other MPs contributed to the debate.

Key points

  • The current system of individual electoral registration is failing, particularly marginalising those from poorer backgrounds, disabled individuals, and ethnic minorities.
  • Since its introduction, 800,000 people have dropped off the register nationwide.
  • The Bill aims to integrate national datasets to ensure accurate and complete electoral registers.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Siobhain McDonagh Lab Mitcham and Morden

The current system of individual electoral registration is failing, particularly marginalising those from poorer backgrounds, disabled individuals, and ethnic minorities. Since its introduction, a staggering 800,000 people have dropped off the register nationwide, representing an increase in exclusion for vulnerable populations. The Bill aims to impose duties on the Government to ensure accurate and complete electoral registers by integrating national datasets, enabling automatic updates of addresses, and promoting data sharing between public bodies. It also proposes a cheaper, simpler model with proven success in Australia.

Other contributors (1)
  • Siobhain McDonagh Lab Mitcham and Morden

    The current electoral registration system is flawed and excludes many from voting, particularly those who are already marginalized. The Bill seeks to address this by placing a duty on the Government to ensure complete and accurate registers through better data integration and sharing across departments, making it easier for citizens to register.

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