Automatic Voter Registration Drop in

Unlock Democracy held a drop in on 20 May 2025 to draw attention to people who are not on the electoral register. 

The event raised awareness of the need for automatic voter registration with experts presenting a detailed breakdown of regional data across England and Wales. The Electoral Commission estimate that over 6 million eligible citizens are not on the electoral register and reported that Sweden, which uses an automatic voter registration model, had a voting age population of 8.1 million with over 7.75 million people were registered to vote. Turnout was 84%. The data for the UK shows large inequalities between different groups:

• Only 60% of 18-19 year olds are registered to vote, compared to 94% of over 65s.
• Only 65% of private renters are registered to vote, compared to 95% of owner occupiers.
• Only 72% of black and mixed-race citizens are registered to vote, compared to 87% of white citizens.

I am pictured with Tom Brake, former MP and Director of Unlock Democracy, with the letter I signed with other MPs and Peers urging the Prime Minister to include a commitment to automatic voter enrolment in the forthcoming Elections Bill.