Overview

This bill aims to improve voter registration in the UK by empowering registration officers to proactively register citizens and mandating data sharing between government bodies and registration officers to identify eligible voters. It focuses on increasing registration amongst underrepresented groups.

Description

The bill introduces several key changes:

• Data Sharing: The Secretary of State can issue regulations requiring specified government bodies (like the DVLA, DWP, HM Passport Office, and NHS) to share information with registration officers to identify potential voters. This information will include details like name, address, date of birth, and National Insurance number. The bill clarifies that no information can be shared without a person's consent.
• Active Registration: Registration officers are given new duties to actively increase voter registration, particularly amongst specified groups (16-24 year olds, disabled people, and under-represented racial groups). They must also organize at least one voter engagement session per year at each school and further education college in their area.
• Specified Groups: The bill defines "specified groups" requiring targeted registration efforts, including young people, those with disabilities, and under-represented ethnic groups.

Government Spending

The bill does not specify any direct government spending figures. However, the costs associated with implementing the new data sharing regulations and the increased responsibilities of registration officers will likely result in increased government expenditure, although the exact amount is not detailed in the provided text.

Groups Affected

The bill will affect several groups:

• Registration Officers: They will have increased responsibilities, including proactive voter registration and data management.
• Government Bodies (e.g., DVLA, DWP, NHS): These bodies will be required to share data with registration officers, impacting their administrative procedures.
• Young People (16-24): This age group will be targeted for increased registration efforts.
• People with Disabilities: They will be a focus for proactive registration drives.
• Under-represented Ethnic Groups: These groups will also be targeted to improve their electoral registration rates.
• Potential Voters: They may experience increased contact from registration officers to encourage registration.

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