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Electoral Register: Internet

Answer

The Government has no plans to create an online electoral registration checking tool. Registers are held locally rather than centrally. There would be major technical, security and privacy issues around consolidating the registers to allow a live registration check, especially given that a checking tool would require an elector to prove their identity in the course of making an application. The investment costs required to overcome these barriers would significantly outweigh the cost of processing duplicates.

The Government nevertheless recognises that duplicate registrations represent a burden to administrators and that this may be the case in particular at the time of major elections. We are currently examining evidence collected during the recent general election to understand the scale of this issue and to identify more practicable solutions than a checking tool. For example, there may be the potential for improvements to the online journey to reduce duplicates. It may also be possible to exploit electoral management software systems to improve duplicate processing. The Government is taking forward this work with the Association of Electoral Administrators, the Scottish Assessors Association and the Electoral Commission.

At the same time, it is clear that online registration has led to a boost in registration levels. Compared to other means of increasing registration, such as the issuing of Household Notification Letters in advance of polls, online registration is highly cost efficient, even accounting for duplicate applications.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

HL1028

Session

2017-19

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Subjects

Electoral register Internet

Link

View this Written question on www.parliament.uk