Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps the Government is taking to increase voter (a) registration and (b) turnout at European Union Elections in 2019 in the event that the UK has not left the EU.

The Electoral Commission has a statutory responsibility to promote awareness of elections, including public awareness campaigns on voter registration. Electoral Registration Officers have a statutory duty to ensure that people who are eligible to vote in relevant elections have the opportunity to do so. For both this includes the European Parliamentary elections.

The Cabinet Office report, Respecting, Protecting and Promoting our Democracy, sets out the recent steps that Government has taken to modernise voter registration. For example, the introduction of online applications; changes to the anonymous registration process; and co- production of Mencap Easy-Read guides have made the system more accessible and built on record levels of voter registration. On voter turnout, this remains a matter for political parties.