Tag Archives: electoral registration

Government finally agrees to introduce individual electoral registration

By Mark Pack | Mon 2nd March 2009 - 10:41 pm

Earlier today the Government finally fell in to line with public opinion, the Electoral Commission and both the Liberal Democrat and Conservative parties by backing the introduction of individual registration.

As the Electoral Commission’s press release says:

Electoral Commission Chair Jenny Watson said “We very much welcome this decision to introduce individual registration. The right to register to vote is of fundamental importance in our democracy – so important that it’s something for which individuals should take personal responsibility.

“A move to individual registration will also lead to a more accurate and secure electoral register, giving us a firm platform from which we

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Posted in News | Also tagged electoral commission | 2 Comments

Why should opting out of double-glazing direct mail stop you hearing about a local planning application?

By Mark Pack | Wed 4th February 2009 - 10:20 am

Use of the electoral register is, quite rightly, tightly controlled. The full register can only be used for running elections and a very small number of other tasks, such as if the police want to use it to help track down a person. As a database of names and addresses is also useful for a wide range of other purposes there is an ‘edited’ version of the register which anybody can buy – but which anyone can also opt out from appearing on.

However, by having just the one type of register available for wider use all sorts of different uses …