Our approach

We have always provided support to Electoral Registration Officers to achieve complete and accurate electoral registers and a well-run electoral registration process. For example, in addition to publishing guidance for Electoral Registration Officers which cover electoral registration as a main theme, we have published a number of policy and research reports which assess the operational effectiveness of the current system and identify best practice and areas for improvement.

We will continue to undertake a range of work with Electoral Registration Officers across the UK to identify and promote effective practice in the registration process. This will include setting and monitoring performance standards in relation to the electoral registration process and collecting information about the funding of the electoral registration process, using new powers provided following the Electoral Administration Act 2006. We also anticipate making increased use of our existing power to recommend that the Secretary of State give directions, where necessary, to Electoral Registration Officers regarding the discharge of their registration duties.

We will continue to use a range of strategies for promoting electoral registration, particularly among those groups which are believed to be under-represented on the register, including home-movers, people from minority ethnic communities, young people, members of HM services and British citizens overseas. We will extend our existing provision of resources and campaign materials to help Electoral Registration Officers run registration activity locally.

We will also continue to build on our successful partnerships with Electoral Registration Officers, police, prosecuting authorities, political parties and others to identify and tackle instances of fraud or inaccurate registration.

Maintaining and establishing accurate estimates of the rate of registration in Great Britain will remain a key priority and the Commission recognises the importance of developing and funding further research to complement existing registration studies. In Northern Ireland we run a programme of research analysing the registration process. We will be continuing and extending this work in order to track the impact of the recent changes introduced by the Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006. In Great Britain, establishing an acceptable estimate of the rate of electoral registration will be required to underpin the performance standards regime.

In taking forward this programme of work, we will also take account of the recommendations from the most recent National Audit Office value for money report on electoral registration, and seek to incorporate their findings and conclusions in the design and implementation of the key activities below.

Longer-term issues

While we will be working within a new framework to set and monitor performance standards we will have few direct "levers" for guaranteeing standards. Experience of operating a performance framework over the next few years will also help to establish whether the powers provided following the Electoral Administration Act 2006 are sufficient to drive performance improvement. If not, the Commission will explore what additional powers, sanctions or incentives may be necessary and appropriate.

In light of the Government's agreement that individual registration is in principle the right way forward, we will also continue to explore ways in which concerns about the practical impact of individual registration in Great Britain can be addressed, in order to move towards legislation in this area.

The Electoral Administration Act also gives the Government powers to establish a Coordinated Online Record of Electors (CORE) scheme, which would provide a single point of access for authorised users (including political parties and the Commission) to national electoral registration data. The Commission will work to support effective implementation of the CORE scheme.

We have identified the following key activities for the next five years:

1)  Establish and operate a performance standards regime to drive improvement in the accuracy and completeness of electoral registers, targeting Commission support on areas of demonstrated need.

2)  Ensure that Electoral Registration Officers are clear about their statutory responsibilities and have access to appropriate tools and resources to assist in the compilation and updating of the register.

3)  Establish and operate a financial information reporting regime which enables the Commission to identify any funding barriers to the accuracy and completeness of electoral registers.

4)  Work with Electoral Registration Officers, political parties, police and prosecuting authorities in devising strategies and tools to promote integrity in the electoral registration process.

5)  Deliver public information campaigns, targeted particularly at under-registered groups, to improve the completeness of the register.

6)  Undertake a rolling programme of research to increase understanding of why registers are incomplete or inaccurate, and how to tackle these weaknesses.

7)  Monitor registration law and practice to identify changes that could drive improvement in the accuracy and completeness of electoral registers.

8)  Work with the Government and other key stakeholders to support wider registration initiatives and projects.

Key success measures

• Performance indicators for electoral registration published in early 2008; performance standards regime for electoral registration fully established by December 2008
• Establishing by early 2008 baseline percentage of electors in Great Britain who are serviced by local authorities meeting performance standards for electoral registration
• Increasing the rate of registration: proportion of eligible voting age population registered to vote in the UK
• Increasing the percentage of electors in Great Britain who are serviced by local authorities meeting performance standards, from January 2009 onwards.