Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent assessment he has made of the compatibility of software used by local authorities for electoral registration and that used by (a) the Electoral Commission and (b) his own Department.

The Government has no plans to assess the compatibility of software used by local
authorities for electoral registration and that used by the Cabinet Office and Electoral
Commission.

When Individual Electoral Registration (IER) was introduced in 2014, the Cabinet Office
worked with the Electoral Management Systems (EMS) providers to ensure they were
compatible with the Government’s IER Digital Service. Compatibility with the IER Digital
Service means that Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) can manage registration data
through their EMS by downloading applications submitted through the Register to Vote
website, uploading applications to be verified with the Department of Work and Pensions,
and notifying other EROs about electors who have moved from their area.

We continue to work with the suppliers to ensure any changes to the IER Digital Service
retain compatibility with the EMSs. In addition, the Cabinet Office is also working closely
with EMS providers to ensure that all systems used by EROs are fully prepared to manage
the changes required as part of the reforms to the annual canvass.

The Government does not hold any information on the compatibility of software used by
the Electoral Commission with that used by local authorities.