Running electoral registration - Wales

You should build the automatic voter registration process into your public engagement strategy, making use of council social media channels, website and press opportunities to highlight the process and its purpose. For more information see our guidance on communication channels for engaging residents and raising awareness using advertising and media.

You should have information available about the ability to opt out of automatic voter registration, including the ability to register to vote anonymously and the requirements of that process.

You will potentially identify and send a notification of registration to 14 and 15 year olds, you should ensure there is specific information available to these individuals and their parents or carers about the automatic voter registration process. This should include how their data has been identified, processed and will be stored.

You should train staff that will be taking calls on your behalf to respond to enquiries or refer callers to the right place. We have developed an FAQ resource to support you.

Hard to reach groups

You can utilise both internal and external partners you have engaged with previously to help you identify unregistered electors in hard-to-reach groups where you are less likely to have access to local data e.g. people experiencing homelessness, or those with language barriers. These partnerships may enable you to take the other steps available to you to identify people who are unregistered, these include:1

• Sending paper communications
• Sending electronic communications
• Making personal visits, where the person is over 16
• Making telephone calls, where the person is over 16, and you hold their telephone number

You should evaluate whatever methods you use to engage with potential electors to ensure you are reaching the right audiences and sharing information effectively.