In The Independent newspaper in March 2017, the Government was accused of obstructing the homeless from voting, while spending millions on helping rich expats register.
In a 2016 speech[1] Chris Skidmore MP talked about ensuring we have a democracy that works for everyone. A democracy that really works for everyone must allow homeless people, travellers, sofa surfers and anyone without a fixed address to register to vote as easily as all other UK residents and British overseas voters.
We demand that the online individual electoral registration form be amended to allow those without a fixed address to use it just like other all UK based and overseas electors.
We further demand that the government invests money specifically to promote and administer the registration of residents without a fixed address. That financial investment must match the money that has already been spent on promoting and administrating the registration of overseas electors.
Sign now to demand the Minister for the Constitution urgently facilitate the updating of the online forms to allow homeless people to register to vote as easily as others. The deadline to register for the 2017 general election is 22 May so this must happen immediately!
Electoral Administrators have expressed concern at the discrimination here[2] (pg12-15 of pdf), and this has also been reported in The Independent[3]. Electoral registration software workers have already said it would not be difficult to put the form online.
Information on how to register to vote if you haven't got a fixed address, including links to forms is here.
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Sources:
1 - https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/a-democracy-that-works-for-everyone-chris-skidmore-speech
2 - http://www.cnwl.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/arena-february-2017.pdf
3 - http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/government-homeless-voters-obstruction-while-spending-millions-rich-ex-pats-a7623606.html
