Voter Registration Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office
Wednesday 8th June 2016

(8 years, 5 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Matt Hancock Portrait Matthew Hancock
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There are very high numbers of registrations for postal votes, and indeed of registrations by post as opposed to through the website. We are dealing with all those issues. The right hon. Gentleman asks me to pull out all the stops; believe me, we are.

Julian Lewis Portrait Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East) (Con)
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Even before the failure of the electronic system we heard that thousands of polling cards had been sent inappropriately to people who do not qualify to vote. Given the great strain on the system caused by the surge, will the Minister explain exactly how that sort of mistake will not be made again?

Matt Hancock Portrait Matthew Hancock
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That was an identified software fault, which has now been fixed. The Electoral Commission brought it to the public’s attention. It has been addressed and lessons have been learned.