Electoral Commission
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Electoral Commission and MoneySavingExpert.com urge recent homemovers to register to vote

Across the UK and based on data from the last census, approximately 7.5 million people will have moved home in the last 12 months. Recent research by the Electoral Commission indicates that of these, only 40% may be registered to vote, compared to 93% of those who have lived in the same place for 16 years or more. In a similar vein, only 63% of those who rent privately are registered to vote, compared to 94% of those who own their own homes.

As part of its national public awareness campaign ahead of the General Election in May, the Electoral Commission and MoneySavingExpert.com are teaming up to encourage as many people as possible to register at their current address.

The Commission is also working with a number of other organisations, including Confused.com, Spareroom.co.uk, Chancellors Estate Agents, Bradleys Estate Agents, National Housing Federation, Jackson-Stops Estate Agents, LSL Property Services, DCH, London and Country and Principality Building Society and has created a toolkit andresources to help them spread the word. The campaign will launch on 8 April 2015 across digital channels and will use the hashtag #MakeTodayTheDay.

Warren Seddon, Head of Media and Public Affairs at the Electoral Commission, said: “We know that people who have recently moved house or who rent from a private landlord are considerably less likely to be registered to vote, so it’s vital that they hear our message. Many people don’t realise they aren’t registered or how easy it is to do, so if you haven’t already registered at your new address do it now at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

Martin Lewis, founder and editor of MoneySavingExpert.com, said: “Forget buying a house, a car, a mobile phone – the biggest consumer decision we all make in our lives is choosing a government. And if you don’t use your right to vote – or at worst spoil your ballot as a statement – then you’ve no right to whinge when it goes wrong. Register now so you can make your choice on the 7th May.”

Previous research by the Commission has also suggested that 44% of those not registered to vote mistakenly believe that they are - highlighting the need for people to double check if they are registered. People can check if they are registered to vote by getting in touch with their local authority and they can find the necessary contact details by going towww.aboutmyvote.co.uk.  

Anyone who wants to vote at the General Election must register by April 20 and can do so online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

For further comment from MoneySavingExpert, please contact Sarah Einig on 020 3150 1594 or Sarah.Einig@moneysavingexpert.com

Interviews

Interviews are available. Please contact Rosemary Davenport on 0207 271 0704 orrdavenport@electoralcommission.org.uk to arrange these.

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 and are responsible for the conduct and regulation of referendums held under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act (2000). The Commission is working with a range of partners to help promote voter registration, more details on which can be found on its website here.
  2. Money Saving Expert is is dedicated to cutting consumers’ bills and fighting their corner. The free-to-use consumer finance help resource aims to show people how to save money on anything and everything, and campaigns for financial justice. Set up in 2003 for just £100, its free-to-use, ethical stance quickly made it the UK's biggest independent money website, according to internet ranking site Alexa.com, and the number one 'Business and Finance - Business Information' site, according to Hitwise. It has more than 10 million people opted-in to receive the weekly Martin's Money Tips email, and more than 14 million unique monthly site users who visit more than 23 million times a month. In September 2012, it joined the MoneySupermarket.com Group PLC.

 

Channel website: https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk

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