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

Modernising local government election services for the future

By Peter Stanyon | 12 October 2026

Tinkering with the voting system is not enough, it’s time for a wholescale review of how we deliver elections, says Peter Stanyon.

ELECTIONS

Transferring power out of Whitehall: Don't devolve fiscal risk when 'rewiring'

By Mark Morrin | 01 October 2026

Mark Morrin says carefully designed fiscal devolution must combine meaningful local control with national equalisation, transitional protection and arrangeme...

ELECTIONS

Downgrading councils who use illegal children's homes holds sector to 'unattainable standard'

By Ann McGauran | 29 September 2026

Ofsted proposals to downgrade councils that use unregistered placements would hold local authorities (LAs) to an ‘unattainable standard’, children’s care chi...

ELECTIONS

Insecurity: the missing piece of the productivity puzzle

By Saffron Woodcraft | 09 July 2026

New research shows reducing insecurity can boost productivity, earnings and inclusive economic growth across local communities, says Saffron Woodcraft.

Popular articles by Ellie Ames

-->