Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has considered the potential merits of revising the system for remaining off the electoral register on the grounds of safety from a former abusive partner, so that applications do not need to be renewed annually with supporting evidence from a (a) doctor and (b) judge.

The government committed in its manifesto to improving voter registration. This commitment applies to every eligible elector. The current system requires individuals registered as anonymous electors to reapply annually to maintain their status. The government acknowledges that this requirement imposes an unnecessary burden on those electors.

In its published strategy, Restoring trust in our democracy: Our strategy for modern and secure elections, the government committed to amending the legislation to extend the duration of anonymity period. This reform will mean that anonymous electors will no longer need to reapply each year, thereby streamlining the process and reducing barriers to participation.