Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they now expect from (1) the Cabinet Office, (2) the Electoral Commission, and (3) local Electoral Registration Officers as regards (a) the estimated proportion of those attaining the age of 18 who are registered to vote, and (b) the decline in the match rate of those attaining the age of 18 under the new system of individual electoral registration.

Through matching against government records, almost 9 in 10 electors in England and Wales were automatically transferred to the new register.

The Government has funded Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) to write to all electors confirming whether they have matched, and inviting those that did not register under Individual Electoral Registration to do so. Non-responders will receive two written reminders and a visit from a canvasser.

The Electoral Commission’s national awareness campaign includes activity aimed at young people. The Commission has encouraged EROs to work with schools to target attainers as part of their public engagement work.

Online registration makes registering to vote simpler and quicker than ever before for nearly all electors - 530,511 16-24 year olds have applied since 11 July 2014.