Registration deadline to be extended - Last chance to register to vote in the EU Referendum
Referendum update
The Electoral Commission is urging voters who are not already registered to vote to make an application before midnight on Thursday 9 June.
The Commission called this morning for the Government to consider options for introducing legislation as soon as possible that would extend the deadline, after problems affected the Government’s registration website last (Tuesday) night.
The Government has now announced that they plan to introduce legislation that will allow people who make applications to register on Wednesday 8 and up to midnight on Thursday 9 June to vote in the EU Referendum on 23 June.
Voters are also being reminded that, if they are already registered, they do not need to make a new application.
Alex Robertson, Director of Communications at the Electoral Commission said:
No one should miss out on voting in this historic referendum because of the problem with the Government’s registration website last night. We said this morning that legislation should be introduced to extend the registration deadline and we’re pleased the Government will now be making this change.
We are urging everyone who is not already registered to vote to take this last chance to do so before the end of Thursday (9 June).
Ends
For further information contact the Electoral Commission press office:
- 020 7271 0704 (Out of office hours: 07789 920 414)
- press@electoralcommission.org.uk
Extra notes
Notes to editors
- 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 and are responsible for the conduct and regulation of referendum held under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act (2000).
- The Electoral Commission made a statement this morning calling for the Government to consider options for introducing legislation as soon as possible that would extend the deadline.
- The extended deadline applies to all voters across Great Britain, not just the voters who were unable to register last night.
- The deadlines for applying for a postal or proxy vote have not changed.
- The online registration site is a Cabinet Office website so any further details on the nature of the technical issues experienced would need to be sought from them.
- To monitor the number of applications to register to vote, visit https://www.gov.uk/performance/register-to-vote.