Elections: Multiple Voting

Lord Razzall Excerpts

Tuesday 14th June 2022 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Featherstone]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of the number of electors who vote more than once in an election because they are registered at two separate addresses.

[Lord Razzall (LD)]

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing on the Order Paper in the name of my noble friend Lady Featherstone.

[The Minister of State, Home Office and Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities (Lord Greenhalgh) (Con)]

The Government do not hold data on whether individual electors registered at more than one address have voted more than once in an election.

[Lord Razzall (LD)]

My Lords, I assumed that would be the Answer. Does the Minister not agree that it is quite confusing for electors registered in more than one place? They can vote in local elections for both their residences and even in a by-election if it takes place where they are registered. Does he accept that it might be sensible for an indication to be given when you register to vote, either on the form or at the time of registration, that if you are registered in more than one place then you cannot vote twice in a general election?

[Lord Greenhalgh (Con)]

My understanding is that it is made clear that you cannot vote twice in a general election. Indeed, it carries a criminal offence. You now have to prove your residence as part of the electoral registration process, but I will take that point on board.