Chris Ruane – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Ruane on 2014-05-01.

To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission, what recent assessment the Electoral Commission has made of electoral registration rates of attainers in (a) Scotland, (b) Northern Ireland, (c) Wales and (d) England.

Mr Gary Streeter

The Electoral Commission informs me that it does not hold separate estimates of registration rates of attainers for England, Scotland and Wales. However, its 2011 report on the completeness and accuracy of the electoral registers in Great Britain found that 55% of 17 – 18 year olds were registered to vote. The sample size of the survey does not allow for country breakdowns.

The Commission further informs me that their 2012 report on the Northern Ireland register found that 66% of 16 – 17 year olds were registered to vote.