Memorandum by Help the Aged (VOT 42)
OLDER PEOPLE
In 2002, there were 9.5 million people aged
65 and over in the UK. The number of older people in our population
has increased over the past few decades, and is projected to continue
to grow in the future. During the 50 years 1971 to 2021, the number
of people in the UK aged 65 and over is expected to have increased
nearly 70%, from 7.3 million to 12.2 million.
The section of the older population which has
increased most rapidly, both in actual size and in relation to
the total population, is that of people over 75. The proportion
of people in this age-group is projected to increase from 4.5%
in 1971 to 9% in 2021.
A growing section of our older population is
very elderly. For example, the proportion of people in the UK
aged 85 and over increased from 0.7% in 1961 to 1.9% in 2002 The
number of people aged 90 and over in Great Britain has tripled
since 1971; in 2002 there were 380,000 people in this age group,
representing 4% of the population aged 65 and over. By 2021 there
are expected to be 601,000 people aged 90 and over. (Social Trends
34, 2004)
PROBLEMS OLDER
PEOPLE FACE
WHEN VOTING
There are a number of features of the voting
process which may have served to disenfranchise vulnerable older
voters in the recent all postal trials. Similar issues may be
relevant in terms of electoral registration.
— The ballot paper itself—the
sample ballot paper from the recent pilot in the East Midlands
region, provided to Help the Aged, failed to meet basic accessibility
standards in terms of its layout and font size. In particular
older people with visual impairments and failing eyesight would
have struggled to read the instructions on how to vote and information
on where to get help if they were struggling.
— The folding rules—the ballot
paper from East Midlands came with strict instructions that the
paper should be folded in a particular way, explaining that papers
folded incorrectly would be deemed invalid. This system was insensitive
to the needs of older people with joint and movement problems
who may have difficulties in carrying out precise procedures such
as folding. Furthermore, given the small size of the font explaining
the rules, it is possible that other physically able older people
may have had their ballots rejected due to being unable to read
the folding instructions.
— The need for a counter-signatory
—it is an unfortunate fact of life that there are a large
number of older people living alone who are very isolated. The
need for a counter-signatory on postal ballots, may have presented
particular challenges for these groups.
— The lack of access to help—
it is clear that the current requirements for the provision of
assistance and delivery points for postal voters are not sufficient
to meet the needs of older people. We are aware that, for example,
in the Derbyshire Dales District Council area only one assistance
and delivery point was made available, and that, for some vulnerable
older voters in that area, getting to the point would have meant
travelling 40 miles and taking up to four different buses. Whilst
we do not know the extent to which these points were used during
the election, its clear that given the excessive distances involved,
and the potential for older people to be unaware of their existence
(especially given the small font size used to give ballot information)
it's highly likely that many older people would have been unable
to contemplate even attempting to access them in the first place.
Help for vulnerable voters must be a key priority
and must be well signposted and easily accessible within the community.
HOUSEHOLD VERSUS
INDIVIDUAL REGISTRATION
In 2001, two new provisions to the Representation
of the People Act 2000 came into force which made it easier for
homeless people to register to vote. Until then, the need for
an address at which to register has been a major barrier to registration.
However, under s6 of the new Act, a homeless person can make a
declaration of local connection to enable them to register to
vote. The section sets out a prescribed format for the declaration,
which must include amongst the standard requirements, a required
address which is the address of, or which is nearest to, a place
in the UK where he [sic] commonly spends a substantial part of
his time (whether during the day or at night). The Act also introduced
a "rolling register" which means that electoral registers
will be updated monthly rather than annually.
Whilst the registration rules for homeless individuals
have been made easier, a move towards individual registration
could assist those older people who move frequently or have no
fixed abode. Changes could also benefit people who live in houses
of multiple occupation. There are estimated to be 10,000 older
people homeless and with priority needs.
More research is needed into the impact of moving
registration from household to individuals in relation to the
30,000 care homes, which provide accommodation for 577,000 people
in the UK.
DIFFICULTIES WITH
COMPLETING FORMS
There is a need for a variety of tools to help
vulnerable individuals register (including home visits and alternative
formats). JRF research on meeting the needs of Chinese older people
recommended courses to teach older people to fill in application
forms. JRF also published, in 2003, "Older people's views
on information, advice and advocacy" which also highlighted
the problems some older people have completing forms.
AVAILABILITY AND
CONFIDENTIALITY OF
THE REGISTER
Confidence in the confidentiality of the Electoral
Register is vital if the most vulnerable individuals are to be
encouraged to register to vote. Where there are fears that the
Register is not confidential, those estranged from their families,
or those who have been persecuted either at home or abroad may
be reluctant to register.
TECHNOLOGY AND
OLDER PEOPLE—ELECTRONIC
REGISTRATION
Only 18% of older people ever use the internet
and only 24% of over 75s own a mobile phone. If government develops
systems of electronic registration, there must be an alternative
exceptions service for those who cannot access the technology.
If electronic registration moves forward, websites must meet the
highest accessibility standards.
Government will soon be making an announcement
on digital TV switchover. Help the Aged believes that Government
could play a key part in reducing the digital divide by providing
and encouraging industry to provide, set top boxes which give
internet access into the homes of older and vulnerable people.
PIN NUMBERS/SIGNATURES/VOTING
CARDS
New research by UCL highlights the problems
which older people have with pin numbers. The research reveals
that even mild levels of cognitive impairment affects the ability
to use a pin number and pin machine. The research implies that
the majority of people with dementia would have problems using
a Pin system. The Alzheimer's society estimates that 775,000 people
in the UK have dementia.
EXCEPTIONS
Any changes to electoral registration would
be need to be backed up by an exceptions service for those who
could not cope with the new arrangements.
MORE RESEARCH
Any changes should be backed up by research
and should be well planned. The failure of the postal voting trials
was partly down to bad planning and partly due to a lack of research.
More research is needed into the older person's experience of
electoral registration, voting and voting systems. It is clear
that proposals such as electronic registration could pose particular
challenge for this generally technologically excluded group.
BASIS FOR
INDIVIDUAL REGISTRATION
Many BME women will not have an NI number, particularly
Bangladeshi, Pakistani, and Romany. Providing a birth date can
also be difficult for some refugee communities. Obtaining other
documents such as birth certificates can be difficult for some
minority and refugee communities.
STRATEGIES FOR
ENCOURAGING REGISTRATION
There remains a need for better information
and access to information available for ethnic groups, particularly
non-English speaking. There is a need to stress to minority communities,
the benefits of voting.
Strategies for encouraging registration could
include: advertising in ethnic press; advertising on ethnic radio;
and advertising at convenient places eg faith centres, day centres,
community centres.
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