AN ESTIMATED one million voters are currently “missing” from the electoral register in England and Wales according to the Labour party.
The introduction of a new individual voter registration system has been blamed for the drop in voters - which is said to be most prevalent in university towns.
As Labour revealed plans to get young people registered to vote ahead of the May general election, shadow Northern Ireland secretary Ivan Lewis called for urgent attention to the matter of the missing million.
“As part of reaching out to 16 to 35 year olds, we will produce a distinct young people’s election manifesto,” he said.
“It will offer radical change on jobs, pay, education, the NHS, immigration, housing, and global issues such as climate change, development and human rights,” he added.
“This launch also focuses attention on the scandal of the “missing million”, mainly young people who have dropped off the electoral register in the past twelve months.”
He explained: “Ed [Miliband] made it clear that we will work with excellent organisations such as Bite the Ballot and the British Youth Council’s League of young voters, to mobilise young people to register. We will also demand the Government, Electoral Commission, universities and local councils take urgent action before it is too late.”
Since its introduction in June 2014, the individual electoral registration (IER) system means each person must register their vote individually.
Previously the head of a household was responsible for registering the votes of everyone else who lived at the address.
Labour claim 307 of 373 local authorities that provided data had recorded a reduction in their electoral roll since the changeover.
Overall they report a reduction of 950,845 registered voters.
Anyone who wishes to vote in the general election on May 7 must register – online or by post - by April 20.
All Irish people living in Britain, aged 18 or over, are eligible to vote.
To register or for further information www.gov.uk/register-to-vote
See More: 2015 General Election, Featured, Register To Vote
