The debate about whether or not voters' personal details may be on public sale started as early as July 2008, when the then Information Commissioner recommended abolishing the edited version of the electoral register. Since, the Electoral Commission, the Association of Electoral Administrators, and the House of Commons Political and Constitutional Reform Committee have all argued that the sale of voters' personal details should end. However, in a debate about the Electoral Registration and Administration Bill the Minister for Political and Constitutional Reform, Mark Harper, confirmed that the register will be retained.

In response to a question by Graham Allen MP, who chaired the House of Commons Committee that scrutinised the Bill in November 2011, Mr Harper explained that the Government's main consideration had been the question whether or not the sale of voters' personal details acts as a disincentive to people registering. Government had seen no evidence of this, and it has therefore agreed with those who argued that abolishing the register would have a negative social and economic impact. On balance […] the Government believe that keeping the edited register from which voters can choose to opt out is the right decision.

To do: some user testing

The Information Commissioner had recommended abolishing the register for two reasons: because many people don't quite understand what the edited electoral register is all about and because selling voters' personal details is wrong in principle. Both arguments were not raised in the debate, although Mr Harper confirmed that Government has asked the Electoral Commission to do some user testing to make sure voter registration forms provide clear information about the edited register and opting out. Interestingly, Mr Harper said he was concerned that some local authorities slightly misrepresent what the [edited register] is used for in order to encourage people to opt out.

The Electoral Registration and Administration Bill has now passed its second reading in the House of Lords. It will be debated in more detail in October. People who wish to opt out of being included on the edited electoral register can do so by contacting their electoral registration office.

Links

• Electoral Registration and Administration Bill 2012-13 (parliament.uk)
• Edited electoral register - standard note SN/PC/06198 (PDF, parliament.uk)
• Edited Electoral Register (guide)