Turnout is important – but so is ensuring people are registered to vote

As Mark Ferguson points out today, turnout is critical for our chances in the elections this week and next year. Our pitch is to the millions who are struggling with the cost of living crisis our country faces. However, there is a real concern about our democratic processes and systems that make it more difficult for people to vote and leave large swathes of the country disenfranchised. We need to take action now to ensure those who are struggling with the cost of living crisis have the political voice and are heard.

Did you know that half of 18-24 year olds are not registered to vote, compared to 6% of those aged over 65? Young people have suffered disproportionately because of measures introduced by the Tory-led Government. The tripling of tuition fees, the high levels of youth unemployment, cuts to local services and the impenetrable housing market are just four areas that young people have strong views on. The youth voice is not heard in politics, because it’s not demanding to be heard at elections.

Another example is renters. Our announcement of sweeping reforms to the private rented sector offers families greater security – clamping down on unscrupulous landlords and helping with the bills. Too many families live with the constant anxiety that their landlord will increase rent forcing them to take their children out of their current school. There are now nine million people living in the private rented sector and a recent poll found that 35% of private renters are swing voters and more than half of these consider the cost of rent as their biggest problem.

However, the Electoral Commission says that only 56% of those living in the private rented sectors are registered to vote. This is compared to 90% of homeowners. Renters are generally more transient, moving homes frequently and often not registering to vote at their new address. Our reforms will help end this insecurity and offer families stability, but we also need to ensure these renters aren’t disenfranchised.

Labour in local government is already taking measures to address these issues. Councils can work with letting agencies to ensure new tenancy packs contain a voter registration form. Labour is committed to ensuring schools and colleges liaise with their Electoral Registration Officers to get students signed up to vote. Universities are being urged to implement voter registration as part of their enrolment process.

From the summer, registration will be available online, so all of us can encourage others to visit the website. We can all do our bit by encouraging friends and colleagues to sign up for a vote. After all, a full and complete electoral register is good for our democracy beyond party politics.

Labour is developing an agenda to help those who are struggling with the cost of living crisis. But we also need to make sure that those people are registered to vote.