Overview

This bill proposes to automatically register all 16-year-old school students in the UK onto the electoral roll. However, this automatic registration is conditional upon parental consent being obtained by the school.

Description

The bill amends the Representation of the People Act 1983 to lower the voting age for electoral registration to 16 for school students. It introduces a new section (9AA) to the Act, mandating registration officers to automatically register 16-year-old students. This automatic registration is contingent on parental consent. The Secretary of State will issue regulations compelling schools to provide necessary information to registration officers, including parental consent status, to facilitate this process. The bill will come into effect 12 months after it becomes law.

Government Spending

The bill is expected to increase government spending to cover the administrative costs associated with the additional registration processes, including the collection of parental consent and data transmission between schools and registration officers. No specific figures are provided in the bill itself.

Groups Affected

• 16-year-old school students: Will be automatically registered if parents consent.
• Parents of 16-year-old school students: Will be required to give consent for their child's automatic registration.
• Schools: Will have a legal duty to provide information to registration officers and obtain parental consent.
• Registration officers: Will have a new duty to automatically register eligible students.
• UK Government: Will incur costs associated with implementing the new system.

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