Who can and can't vote in Cornwall
Among a million other things, I'm working on a story about voter registration in Cornwall which I hope will bear fruit later this week. One thing I've learned is that about 4 per cent of those who should be entitled to vote in Cornwall are missing from the register. That's about 22,000 people. I have previously explained how second home owners have the potential to exercise undue influence, particularly in low-turnout local council elections - but the missing voters have the potential to change the result in every single Cornish Parliamentary constituency. I'm not suggesting that following the purge of nearly 1,000 second home owners from the register, there is no longer an issue. But perhaps it's time for someone to start campaigning for the rights of the missing voters, too.
I'm ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Radio Devon’s Graham Smith, blogging on news, views and some fresh insights into West Country life, particularly the way government works locally and nationally.
Comment number 1.
At 19th Apr 2011, AccurateChronometer wrote:Their voting rights are intact and most know how to exercise them if they wish to.
Perhaps quite a few are not sufficiently convinced by the quality of contemporary politics and the fact that their vote would be diminished and rendered unequal by the presence of so many dodgy multiple voter entries on the corrupt electoral registers of the UK to wish to participate.
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Comment number 2.
At 19th Apr 2011, 28daysearlier wrote:Many of the people receiving help through the supporting people programme would be amoung that 22,000. Maybe if they were more politically engaged the Tory leadership and it's independent apologists would have thought a little more deeply about what their 40% cuts would mean to the most vulnerable in Cornwall.
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Comment number 3.
At 19th Apr 2011, Tynegod wrote:I suspect that the vast majority of these "lost voters" are under-25 and have never voted, never mind even heard of "multiple voter entries".
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Comment number 4.
At 19th Apr 2011, Dave the rave wrote:Could some of them be students? Students are legally allowed to register in more than one constituency, how many do is unknown. A declaration of local connection may be made by homeless people, patients in psychiatric hospitals and remand prisoners. You can be entered on more than one electoral register if you are resident in more than one constituency. if you have a holiday home but spend only a few days there each year, you may not be considered to be 'resident' there. However, if you spend most weekends there, the registration officer may well consider you are eligible to be included in the register.
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