Memorandum by the Ulster Democratic Unionist
Party (DUP) (VOT 21)
VOTER REGISTRATION—SOME LESSONS FROM
NORTHERN IRELAND
1. The electoral process and voter registration
are essential parts of how our system of democracy works. Whilst
Northern Ireland has its own electoral arrangements due to a history
of fraud certain lessons can be learned from the experience in
the Province. The Electoral Fraud (Northern Ireland) Act 2002
made provision for changes in Northern Ireland which tightened
up on procedures but also had the implication of reducing the
number of eligible voters on the register.
2. Great Britain has a different history
in terms of voter fraud with less experience of voter fraud. Different
considerations will therefore apply to any decisions to be taken.
The comments below are based on the Northern Ireland experience
and their relevance should be assessed accordingly. Detailed work
in this area has been done in Northern Ireland by both the Electoral
Commission and the Electoral Office.
3. The experience of individual registration
in Northern Ireland, in association with other measures has undoubtedly
helped eliminate fraud but has also had the by-product of removing
people from the register. Traditionally in Northern Ireland the
household form was filled in by one person, which meant that on
the one hand everyone in the house tended to be included with
the consequence that there was more people on the register, but
also often meant that people who no longer lived at home were
also included. There will undoubtedly be a reduction in the number
of people on the register with individual registration. On balance,
in the absence of a concern over fraud, there is probably more
to be lost by individual registration than gained. Indeed some
of the concerns about fraud could still be dealt with through
a household form. A requirement for a national insurance number
will certainly have a significant impact on ensuring that fraud
is kept to a minimum though for this to be really effective there
would need to be resources put into ensuring that valid numbers
are used. A solution to the situation in Northern Ireland would
be to only do a new register every three or four years and allow
rolling registration.
4. There are no easy answers to the issue
of voter registration and how to encourage it. Advertising clearly
has a role to play as does accessibility to the system. Making
registration as easy as possible will help encourage people fill
out a form though the important balance of preventing fraud must
be maintained.
5. In relation to the issue of geographic
and ethnic variations in levels of voter registration the equivalent
experience in Northern Ireland may be relevant. Although there
is probably not enough information (or a large enough ethnic community)
to make a valid assessment there does appear to be lower registration
for those in the lower socio-economic groups. Undoubtedly individual
registration has a part to play in this situation for the reasons
suggested above. Again advertising and greater accessibility can
help ameliorate the problem but despite intensive efforts in Northern
Ireland this has not entirely rectified the situation.
6. Registration should be address based
but should use NI numbers as a means of verification and to prevent
improper registration at more than one address. If concern of
fraud can be alleviated then there is no reason that registration
on an ongoing basis should not be available at multiple public
outlets such as Post Offices, when collecting benefits or other
Government offices.
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