Title

ELECTIONS

Labour could bring in automatic voter registration

It has been reported that Labour plans to introduce automatic voter registration (AVR) if elected next week.

Labour reportedly plans to introduce automatic voter registration (AVR) if elected next week.

The party's manifesto said it would ‘improve voter registration' and electoral officials have told a national newspaper the pledge relates to plans for people to be added to the electoral roll by default, although a Labour source denied the party was committing to the policy.

It comes after the Welsh Government announced plans to introduce AVR last year.

Some 5.1m people remain unregistered to vote despite a surge in applications after the General Election was announced.

Research by the Electoral Commission last year found young people and private renters continue to be less likely to be correctly registered to vote.

Labour has also committed to addressing ‘inconsistencies' in voter ID rules, citing the issue of veteran cards not being accepted.

ELECTIONS

EXCLUSIVE: Officers warn of looming elections systems failure

By Martin Ford | 18 June 2026

The elections system is under ‘increasing strain’ and ‘likely to fail’ if put under further pressure, officers have warned.

ELECTIONS

EXCLUSIVE: LGA moves closer to strategic authority offer

By Paul Marinko | 11 June 2026

The Local Government Association (LGA) is getting closer to making a membership offer to strategic authorities as Bury MBC’s leader prepares to take over as ...

ELECTIONS

England's post-elections politics makes path to devo 'immeasurably harder'

By Ann McGauran | 21 May 2026

The post-May 7 political arithmetic of the city regions leaves delivery on devolution ‘immeasurably harder to achieve’, a sector expert has said.

ELECTIONS

The King's Speech must squeeze out more progress on climate

By Christopher Hammond | 11 May 2026

After a bruising local election, the King's Speech needs to bring local leaders and communities closer — not push them away, says Christopher Hammond.

Popular articles by Ellie Ames