Question

To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what assistance is offered to households where residents may not have the capability or capacity to complete individual electoral registration forms.

The Electoral Commission provides non-statutory guidance to Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) which covers what they and others can and should do when assisting those who need help to register. The guidance recommends that EROs should provide telephone and/or in-person registration to assist applicants with disabilities and to meet their equalities obligations, and should use personal canvassers to provide assistance with completing registration applications to those who need it. Individuals can also now register to vote online.

The Commission has also been encouraging EROs to identify partners, including disability organisations, to work with locally to help reach electors, and has been working itself to engage with partners at a national level. The Commission would also encourage honourable members to meet with their local ERO to discuss what plans they have in place to support those residents who may need help, as well as to maximise registration of all eligible electors, in the run up to the General Election.