Electoral Administration Bill

The last general election took place on 5 May, but the closing date for registration was 11 March, almost two months prior to polling day and before the election had even been called. For the reasons given by the hon. Member for Somerton and Frome (Mr. Heath), that is a problem. The momentum to register often comes when parties are out and about on the doorstep. That is an important opportunity to get unregistered people on the register and it is frustrating if the deadline has already passed. The clause to which the amendments relate seeks to correct the situation by moving the closing date for registration to 11 days prior to the day of the poll. The amendments would put the deadline further back, either by retaining the status quo under amendment No. 27, or by moving it to 13 days prior to polling day under amendments Nos. 10 and 11 or to more than 20 days before the day of the poll under amendments Nos. 16 and 17. Amendment No. 27 would also affect the correction of clerical errors, which I will mention later. Setting the closing date for registration to vote involves finding the correct balance between making the system accessible to electors while not putting undue burdens on those administering the system. The proposal to move the deadline for registration to 11 days before polling day came initially from the Electoral Commission’s report, ““The Electoral Registration Process””. The commission held a full consultation and concluded that the correct deadline for registration was the day on which nominations close. In parliamentary elections, that is 11 days prior to polling day. Electoral registration officers will add names to the register only when they have made a determination that it is correct to do so. If they cannot make that determination—perhaps because of public objections—they will not add a person’s name to the register. The clause therefore does nothing to weaken the protections in place to prevent fraud.