Over 6 million missing from UK Electoral Register despite recent campaigns to encourage registration – campaigners call on Government to introduce Automatic Voter Registration (AVR)
Statement from Unlock Democracy
For more information or to arrange a booking, email media.office@unlockdemocracy.org.uk or call 07948 219975
New analysis carried out by democracy campaign group Unlock Democracy released today reveals that the number of potential voters currently not on the election roll, and therefore unable to vote, remains at the alarming level of over 6 million. This is despite public service campaigns urging people to register in the run-up to the July 2024 General Election.
There is a stark contrast between urban and rural areas, with the percentage of unregistered voters particularly severe across major cities in England and Wales, with up to almost 1 in 6 of potential voters missing from the electoral roll. In more rural areas of Wales and Yorkshire, the figure falls to 1 in 10.
Commenting on these figures, Tom Brake, Director of Unlock Democracy and former MP said, “There is a real problem for democracy when the voices of millions of people are unheard: it deepens the already record levels of disengagement and disillusionment with politics. Fortunately, a tried and tested solution - Automatic Voter Registration - can ride to the rescue.”
According to Unlock Democracy’s analysis, cities such as London, Birmingham, and Manchester have over 15% of eligible residents, especially young people, ethnic minority voters, and renters not on the electoral roll and therefore totally excluded from the electoral process.
Major cities across the country face the highest levels of unregistered voters, specifically in areas of the city that are either the most deprived or ethnically diverse, as seen in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds and Leicester: all have disproportionately higher concentrations of renters, young people and ethnic minority voters in comparison to rural areas.
This widespread under-registration comes amid declining political engagement. The 2024 general election saw turnout at just 59.7%, the second lowest since the introduction of universal suffrage.
Previous Electoral Commission analysis revealed that only 65% of private renters are accurately registered in Great Britain and this drops to 39% for those who’ve lived in their homes for under a year.
The Electoral Commission findings also showed significant disparities in registration rates:
Only 60% of 18 and 19 year olds are registered to vote, compared to 94% of over-65s.
Just 72% of Black and mixed-race citizens are registered, compared to 87% of white citizens.
These inequalities have prompted calls for urgent electoral reform. With Labour committed to ‘increasing registration levels so everyone who is eligible to vote can vote’, Unlock Democracy and other democracy experts are urging the Government to implement Automatic Voter Registration (AVR) to deliver this commitment.
Polling consistently shows that a majority of the British public supports the introduction of automatic enrolment. New polling undertaken last week shows the public 2 to 1 in favour, reinforcing findings from YouGov last year.
Unlock Democracy and several other campaign groups will be meeting MPs and Peers in the Houses of Parliament later today (Tuesday 20th May) urging them to add their voices to the call for the introduction of automatic enrolment. They will then lead a delegation to hand in a letter to no 10 Downing Street signed by supportive parliamentarians.
Momentum for automatic enrolment is building in the devolved nations, with pilot schemes in some areas of Wales already underway and the Scottish Parliament passing legislation to enable automatic enrolment in educational establishments.
-ENDS-
Notes to editors:
AVR is the automatic registration on the electoral roll of eligible citizens when they interact with public services such as the DWP, the Passport Office, or the DVLA. With AVR, millions more could be enfranchised with no additional burden on individuals or extra cost. This system is already successfully used in countries such as Australia, Germany and Denmark.
Analysis of voter underregistration by parliamentary constituency and region available on request.
The parliamentary event is in Room Q Portcullis House 1pm to 2:30pm on 20th May (Tuesday).
Details on the polling referenced above available on request.
List of groups supporting the call for AVR :
Unlock Democracy
Generation Rent
Black Equity Organisation
HOPE not Hate
National Union of Students
Electoral Reform Society
Greenpeace UK
RNIB
38 Degrees
My Life My Say
Electoral Integrity Project
Citizens UK
Involve
Compassion in Politics
Make Votes Matter
Runnymede Trust
Operation Black Vote
Compass
Traveller Movement
The Advocacy Academy
Gingerbread
Best for Britain
Radix Big Tent