Key Facts

• Clause 8 sets out five specific circumstances allowing the sharing of registration information of individuals under 16.
• Circumstances include necessary disclosures for elections, supply enactments, and criminal investigations related to electoral offences.
• The clause includes limits on disclosure, such as prohibiting details that would reveal a person's date of birth.
• Clause 8 permits disclosure of information under five specific circumstances.
• Clauses 9 and 10 ensure that devolved legislation does not conflict with reserved legislation concerning combined electoral registers in Scotland and Wales.
• Clause 11 lists four supply enactments allowing the sharing of registration data for individuals under 16.
• Clause 12 restricts the sharing of under-16s’ information received by registration officers.
• Clause 12 imposes criminal penalties on those who pass the information further.
• Clause 13 allows for flexible regulation-making power subject to important scrutiny requirements.
• The new clause requires the Secretary of State to publish a report within 12 months of the Act passing.
• The report should include consideration of proposals to promote awareness among relevant persons about extending voting rights and to make necessary changes in civic education.
• 'Relevant persons' refers to children and young people who are enfranchised or entitled to be registered as electors before reaching voting age.
• Clause 15 creates a duty for local authorities in Great Britain to raise awareness and provide assistance to young people who are looked after by the authority or eligible for continuing care.
• Clause 16 creates an equivalent duty but applies to health and social care trusts in Northern Ireland.
• The clauses aim to support young people in secure children’s homes, those leaving care, and foster carers under the 'Staying Put' policy.
• Clause 15 establishes a duty for local authorities in Great Britain to raise awareness and provide assistance to certain young people in registering to vote.
• The clause is narrowly defined, excluding other groups that may face barriers to registration such as homeless youth or those in unstable housing.
• New clause 44 requires the Government to report within 12 months on proposals to support the extension of the franchise to 16 and 17 year olds.
• New clause 44 proposes a Government report within 12 months after the Bill becomes an Act.
• The report would cover proposals for increasing awareness among 14 to 17-year-olds and changes to civic education.
• Department for Education committed to making citizenship compulsory in primary schools last November.
• Amendment 26 requires verification through three separate datasets for certain electors.
• Amendment 27 proposes preventing sections 17, 18, and 19 from coming into force until a review is published.
• The amendment aims to avoid incorrectly adding non-qualifying EU or Commonwealth voters to the electoral roll.
• Individual registration was implemented to stop fraudulent electoral registration.
• One in three private rented tenants moves every year, with students moving each academic year.
• The Welsh Government conducted automatic registration pilots but did not consider qualification issues due to franchise changes.
• The current system for registering voters in the UK is considered fine by the MP.
• There are concerns about two different populations of electors if automatic enrolment happens at different times across constituencies.
• The Electoral Commission suggests that up to 8 million people may not be correctly registered to vote.
• The current system has 65% of private renters registered compared to 95% of homeowners.
• Someone being black or brown makes them less likely to be registered compared to other demographics.
• International research by the Electoral Integrity Project ranks the UK in the bottom half of European countries for election empowerment.
• The Electoral Commission report states that nearly all additions to the electoral register through AVR appear accurate.
• Electoral Commission estimates between 7 million and 8 million eligible citizens are either incorrectly registered or not registered at all.
• Clause 17 creates a new process called 'direct registration' where EROs can add unregistered individuals directly onto the register if certain conditions are met, with exemptions for opting out or specific registrations.
• Clause 18 introduces 'direct alteration', enabling EROs to update voter details without applications when data indicates changes have occurred.
• The Government is piloting an auto-enrolment system for electoral registration.
• EROs (Electoral Registration Officers) will use datasets to test the legitimacy of applications before sending a notice to potential voters.
• The Minister aims to transform the electoral registration system by harnessing existing data from across Government departments.
• Amendment 28 aims to prevent pilot programs from amending the voting franchise.
• The proposed amendment would apply specifically to UK parliamentary and local elections in England.
• Clauses 21 to 25 are being considered for inclusion without changes.
• Clause 20 creates a power for the Secretary of State to make regulations for voter registration pilots.
• Clause 21 defines 'voter registration provision' and ensures it does not amend franchise eligibility criteria.
• The Government published their strategy for modern and secure elections in July last year, focusing on harnessing technology and data.
• Clause 21 aims to support a modern, efficient registration system.
• Clause 22 provides clarity on piloting powers and engagement with relevant officials.
• Clause 23 mandates statutory instruments for pilot regulations subject to parliamentary scrutiny.
• The Government has not been transparent in working cross-party on electoral changes.
• Amendment 28 aims to prevent voter pilot schemes from being used to amend the franchise.
• Previous reassurances by the Secretary of State about local elections were found not to be lawful.
• The Electoral Commission disagreed with the Government's stance on local elections but was ignored.
• Clause 20 of the Representation of the People Bill allows for pilots in voter registration processes, but without clear parameters or tests for success.
• There is no need to rush the Bill through this Session as Report stage can be carried over to the next Session.
• The Government plans to introduce a broad power for the Secretary of State to make regulations on pilots testing new methods of electoral registration.
• Parliament will have the opportunity to scrutinise proposals in detail, including the use of datasets.
• Any permanent changes to the registration process will be based on robust evidence and informed by thorough user research.
• Current Northern Ireland canvass regime is deemed unfit for purpose.
• The reform aims to prevent the loss of eligible electors from the register.
• Clause 26 allows for amendments to the canvass system in Northern Ireland.
• The Government has developed the Bill closely with the Northern Ireland Office and other devolved Governments.
• Clause 28 provides for piloting power related to amending the Northern Ireland canvass by regulations.
• A vote was held on whether clause 26 should stand part of the Bill, which passed with 10 ayes and 3 noes.
• Clause 28 of the Representation of the People Bill was agreed upon by Ayes 10, Noes 3.
• Clause 29 of the Representation of the People Bill was also agreed upon by Ayes 10, Noes 3.
• The Committee is scheduled to reconvene on Thursday 26 March at half-past eleven o'clock.