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Written question asked by Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 17 April 2023, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 20 April 2023 (named day). It was answered by Dehenna Davison (Conservative) on Thursday, 20 April 2023 on behalf of the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

Voter Authority Certificates

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what data his Department holds on the take-up of voter authority certificates by (a) age group and (b) ethnic origin.

Answer

I refer the Hon. Member to the response given to the Urgent Question on 21 February 2023 (Official Report, HC, Volume 728, Column 138), to Question UIN 165271 on 20 March 2023 and Question UIN 171447 on 31 March 2023.

The Government published an Equality Impact Assessment of the Elections Act. This included consideration of the impact on people with protected characteristics.

The Electoral Commission is responsible for the communications campaign to help voters understand the new requirement to present identification to vote. This has included work with civil society groups and other stakeholders, including organisations that represent disabled people.

As is already publicly available, an easy read version of the application form for the Voter Authority Certificate is on gov.uk and from the Electoral Commission and easy read instructions are available to support people to apply online. The Government has also legislated to require that accessible information be sent with the Voter Authority Certificate to electors that request it, including in easy read.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
181129
Session
2022-23
Related items
Voter Identification
Tuesday, 21 February 2023
Parliamentary proceedings
House of Commons
Voter Authority Certificates
Monday, 20 March 2023
Written questions
House of Commons
Voter Authority Certificates: Ethnic Groups
Friday, 31 March 2023
Written questions
House of Commons
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Age Ethnic groups Take-up Voter authority certificates
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk