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Written question asked by Chris Ruane (Labour) on Tuesday, 23 July 2019, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 25 July 2019. It was answered by Oliver Dowden (Conservative) on Friday, 26 July 2019 on behalf of the Cabinet Office.


Electoral Register

Question

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will commission research on the effect of levels of functional illiteracy on electoral registration rates.

Answer

In its democratic engagement plan, Every Voice Matters: Building a Democracy That Works For Everyone, the Government explored key barriers to registration identified through research and face to face engagement. We are tackling these barriers, including those faced by survivors of domestic abuse, homeless electors and young people, and have reported on our progress in our follow up report, Democratic Engagement: Respecting, Protecting and Promoting our Democracy.

Although it did not emerge as a factor in its own right, we are aware of the potential contribution that lack of literacy makes to the under registration of a number of groups, such as those with learning disabilities, homeless people and those with specific language barriers.

The voter registration website is reviewed regularly to ensure it meets the Government’s service design standards to make it as easy to use as possible and we have produced easy read guides to registering to vote in partnership with Mencap. We are also working with civil society organisations to encourage engagement with those under registered groups who are more likely to experience lower levels of literacy.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
280930
Session
2017-19
Transferred
Yes
Subjects
Electorate Electoral register Research Literacy
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk