22 Apr 2009
The vast majority of Electoral Registration Officers in Great Britain deliver a well-run registration process, providing a solid foundation for the improvement and modernisation of elections, according to a report published by the Electoral Commission.
Last year the Commission set performance standards for Electoral Registration Officers in Great Britain. The first assessment of performance against these standards shows that more than eight out of ten Electoral Registration Officers either meet or exceed the standards set to ensure the completeness and accuracy of electoral registers. But more must be done to encourage people to register to vote, according to the Commission.
"Electoral registration underpins our electoral process and these standards should give voters confidence as well as supporting improvement where it is needed," said Jenny Watson, Chair of the Electoral Commission.
"In general were pleased with the performance of Electoral Registration Officers the vast majority of electors are getting the quality service they deserve. But there are areas where we want to see improvements; Registration Officers need to do more to make sure that everyone who is eligible to register does so, particularly groups currently less likely to be on the register, such as young people and those from certain ethnic minority communities. This will become more and more important as we move to a system of individual rather than household registration in Great Britain."
During the autumn 2008 annual canvass, Electoral Registration Officers were required to assess their performance against ten standards set by the Commission. The standards cover one key area completeness and accuracy of the register together with a further three supporting areas: encouraging participation, integrity of the registration process and planning and organisation.
The report states that the Commission will continue to help Electoral Registration Officers improve the service they provide to electors, particularly targeting support in areas of need and sharing examples of good performance.
The performance on individual EROs can be viewed on the Electoral Commission website at www.electoralcommission.org.uk/performance-standards.
For further information contact:
Electoral Commission press office on 020 7271 0704
Email: press@electoralcommission.org.uk
Out of office hours: 07789 920414
Notes to editors:
1. The Electoral Commission is an independent body set up by the UK Parliament. Our aim is integrity and public confidence in the UK's democratic process. We regulate party and election finance and set standards for well-run elections.
2. A copy of the report, Performance standards for Electoral Registration Officers in Great Britain, is available on the Electoral Commission website.
3. The Electoral Administration Act 2006 gives the Commission powers to set and monitor performance standards for electoral services. It also allows the Commission to collect information on the costs of electoral services from Electoral Registration Officers, Returning Officers and Referendum Counting Officers. The standards for both EROs and ROs do not apply in Northern Ireland. Standards for Returning Officers do not apply to local government elections in Scotland, as this is a devolved matter.
4. Electoral Registration Officers are responsible for registering all electors in their local authority area and maintaining the accuracy and completeness of the register. The Commission has also set performance standards for Returning Officers, responsible for the administration of elections in their local authority area, and a first assessment of performance against these standards at the 2009 elections will be published in October this year.
5. The 2005 Electoral Commission report Understanding electoral registration, showed that young people, people from certain ethnic minority communities and those living in rented accommodation where among the groups least likely to register to vote. A full copy of the report is available here: www.electoralcommission.org.uk/publications-and-research/research-reports
