Cllr Mitchell

Plans for an Individual Electoral Registration system will be discussed by Brighton & Hove Councillors at a Town Hall meeting this week.
 
The current electoral registration system, which is based on household registration, has a potential for serious fraud which was recognised by the previous Labour Government in 2009. Labour also recognised that such a new system should be introduced fairly and in phases, voluntary at first, to include all social groups.
 
The Conservative-led Government will implement this scheme and remove any voluntary phase.
 
Labour fears that such a speedy implementation, coupled with a lack of resources to publicise the new registration system, will lead to voter registration levels dropping, particularly amongst groups, such as the disabled, older people and those on lower incomes.
 
When Northern Ireland adopted the system, rates dropped by over 10% and poorer communities and some ethnic minority groups were disproportionately affected.
 
Brighton & Hove Labour Leader, Cllr Gill Mitchell, said:
“Labour is questioning the need to rush this legislation through without at least testing it as a pilot. There is also a very real danger of the number of registered voters plummeting.”
 
"Such a rushed process, without safeguards or any additional funding, could potentially undermine the integrity of our democracy."

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