Registration
campaigns
The survey suggests that campaigns to specifically
increase levels of registration are often not a high priority
for Electoral Registration Officers. This is consistent with
the finding that funding is perceived as barely adequate (see
below) for the core Election Unit activities leaving no surplus
for targeted campaigns.
Where specific campaigns have been employed, their
focus has been mainly on 16-24 year olds, recent home movers and
service personnel. The media most often used are local newspapers
or radio and the internet although a whole range of other methods
are sometimes also employed (posters, billboards, newsletters,
council publications and mailshots).
Overseas voters and service personnel were the most
difficult to reach for Local Authorities although initiatives
by the Ministry of Defence and Foreign and Commonwealth Office
are attempting to address these problems.
Resources
for registration
The issue of funding was often raised in Electoral
Registration Officers' general comments; specifically that as
long as funding is so tight for registration purposes there will
be very little surplus for any work in addition to their core
duties. Part of the problem is perceived to be that central funding
is not ring-fenced so that some electoral units do not receive
their allocation in full. Scottish and Welsh authorities tended
to be more positive about their level of funding than English
ones.
45% of respondents indicated difficulty in recruiting
sufficient canvassing staff. The main reasons highlighted for
this were low pay and remuneration, unsociable hours and the safety
risks associated with canvassing. City councils particularly
indicated this was a serious problem with both access and health
and safety issues being cited as factors leading to unwillingness
to visit some areas.
