Hounslow Council supports GLA campaign to encourage residents to register to vote

Hounslow Council is supporting a campaign by The Greater London Authority (GLA) and Shout Out UK (SOUK) this week to help London’s under-registered and under-represented communities register to vote.

Figures show that one in ten Londoners are at risk of losing their democratic voice when changes are made to voting requirements, while three in ten young Londoners (aged 16 to 24) are not currently registered to vote.

In its fourth year, London Voter Registration Week is raising awareness about who can vote and how to do it, including the option to register anonymously for those concerned about their name and address appearing on the electoral register.

The campaign, which is supported by all London boroughs and more than 150 civil society organisations and education institutions, will promote the benefits of being registered to London’s diverse communities, from the impact on your credit score to ensuring Londoners have a say on decisions impacting them, their local communities, city, country and the world.

London has one of the lowest voter registration rates across Britain with three in ten young Londoners (aged 16-24) not registered to vote. Young Londoners, alongside Black, Asian, minority ethnic and migrant Londoners, including Commonwealth and residents from EU states; and social and private renters are already the most under-registered and under-represented groups. Many of these Londoners are also deaf and disabled and on low incomes.

Statistics show:

• More than half a million Londoners do not possess a passport.
• One in five Black Londoners and one in three residents from EU states are not registered to vote and risk being disproportionately impacted by these voting system changes.
• An estimated 1.7m low-income adults across the UK are at risk of losing their democratic voice due to difficulties securing a photo ID.

Further polling commissioned by the GLA and carried out by YouGov also shows that:

• 61 per cent of Londoners are not aware of the forthcoming photo ID requirement in order to vote.

• The third who are aware is comprised of just 13 per cent who are aware of which forms of ID will be accepted and 20 per cent who are not.

• When asked what forms of ID respondents hold, polling revealed one in 10 Londoners (11 per cent) does not hold a form of approved photo voter ID specified in the Elections Act (2022).

• Close to 1 in 5 Londoners aged under 25 say that they do not hold an approved ID (19 per cent).

London Voter Registration Week (14 – 20 November) is coinciding with UK Parliament Week. Borough councils and the coalition of civil society organisations will share resources online and in their networks in more than 25 languages to stress the importance and encourage voter registration, while Shout Out UK and education partners from across London will run more than 25 in-person drives in schools, colleges and at university freshers’ fairs.

Over the last two years, the GLA and its partners have contributed to the voter registration of more than 75,000 people and have reached more than 1.4 million Londoners.

Building on this success and the impartial broad partnership, the GLA will run a public awareness campaign next year in collaboration with the Electoral Commission, all London borough councils, a broad civil society coalition and Shout Out UK to address the equalities impact of the Elections Act and ensure that no eligible Londoner is denied their civic and democratic rights. It is also launching a grants programme aimed at community-led organisations to help reach Black, Asian, minority ethnic and migrant Londoners, including residents from EU states; young Londoners aged 16-24; deaf and disabled Londoners; LGBTQI+ Londoners; older Londoners; and social and private renters.

Matteo Bergamini, CEO/ Founder, Shout Out UK: “Democracy is not guaranteed. All the rights we enjoy today had to be fought for at some point in our collective history. This is why I am honoured that for the third year running Shout Out UK, the organisation I launched at 22, is yet again teaming up with the Greater London Authority to launch London Voter Registration Week 2022. Building on the amazing work done in prior years which was recognised by the EU Digital Citizenship Working Group & Meta’s latest report, showing that every voice in London matters. Democracy is precious; it's fragile and requires everyone. Remember: if you don't do politics, politics will do you, so register to vote."

To find out more about LVRW 2022 and access all the resources produced for this project - infographics, posters, animations, a video, materials in community languages and the Media and Political Literacy resources created by Shout Out UK for educators - please visit the GLA LVRW hub at registertovote.london

You can also access a special offer to get a free CitizenCard voter identity document which is normally £15. Use the code FREEVOTERID at CitizenCard.com