Overview

This bill aims to improve voter registration in the UK by enabling registration officers to access relevant information from government bodies, such as the DVLA and DWP, to proactively register eligible individuals, particularly focusing on under-represented groups. It also mandates voter registration outreach in schools and colleges.

Description

The bill empowers the Secretary of State to create regulations allowing data sharing between government bodies (like the DVLA, DWP, HM Passport Office, and NHS) and registration officers. This data will be used to automatically register eligible voters or trigger follow-up inquiries where information is incomplete. The bill explicitly states that no data sharing can occur without individual consent. The bill amends the Representation of the People Act 1983, adding responsibilities for registration officers: actively working to increase voter registration among specific groups (16-24 year olds, disabled people, and under-represented ethnic groups), and leading or arranging a voter engagement session annually at all schools and further education colleges.

Key Definitions:

• Specified applications: Applications for driving licenses, benefits (jobseeker's allowance, employment support allowance, disability living allowance), passports, and GP registration.
• Specified government bodies: DVLA, DWP, HM Passport Office, and NHS.
• Specified groups: 16-24 year olds, disabled people (as defined by the Equality Act 2010), and under-represented ethnic groups (less than 10% of the UK population according to the previous census).
• Specified information: Full name, address, date of birth, and national insurance number.

The bill applies to England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland and comes into effect immediately upon passage.

Government Spending

The bill doesn't directly specify government spending figures. However, there will be costs associated with implementing the new data sharing regulations and the increased responsibilities placed on registration officers, potentially requiring additional staffing or training. The exact financial implications remain unclear without further budgetary details.

Groups Affected

This bill impacts several groups:

• Government bodies: They will be required to share data with registration officers, needing adjustments to their systems and processes.
• Registration officers: They face increased responsibilities for voter registration, requiring additional resources and potentially more staff.
• Eligible voters (particularly those in specified groups): They will likely see increased efforts to register them to vote, leading to potentially higher voter turnout among these groups.
• Schools and colleges: They will host voter engagement sessions, needing to allocate resources and time.

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