Issue - meetings

That the work of the Elections team and the attempts to encourage greater individual electoral registration be endorsed.

The Chief Executive introduced a report on the functions of the Elections team, in response to a request from Councillor Robin Guest.  He provided an overview of the arrangements and key personnel used in the efficient running of elections in Flintshire which had built up a good track record.  The Chief Executive spoke about the differing roles and responsibilities on elections, and advised that he had been appointed as the Regional Returning Officer for the North Wales region in next year’s Assembly elections.

The Electoral Services Manager provided an update on progress in the implementation of individual electoral registration (IER).  She provided information on work undertaken by the team to date in encouraging households to register and obtaining the additional information as required by the legislation.  Work on the annual canvass had so far resulted in a good return rate of 66% of households submitting their information mainly by post, with reminders issued to the remaining households.  A change to the process meant that those unconfirmed under IER at the end of the year would need to be removed from the register.

Councillor Carolyn Thomas said that reminders sent by post were more likely to be returned the same way, and suggested that social media could be an alternative method of publicising registration.  The Electoral Services Manager explained that the legislation required a paper form to be issued but that other means of reply were signposted.

The Chief Executive said that a refresh was needed to update some practices in electoral registration law, and that the Council was using a range of creative ways to encourage and remind householders about their responsibility to register.

In response to comments from Councillor Peter Curtis on the potential for more younger people to vote electronically if this was introduced, the Chief Executive spoke about the high turnout from the Housing Ballot where a good minority had cast votes online with the vast majority replying by post.

Councillor Aaron Shotton said that everyone had a role in encouraging individuals to register to prevent exclusion from the political process.

The Chairman commented on the potential for unregistered households to experience difficulties in obtaining certain services such as internet connections.  Councillor Richard Jones felt that such restrictions should be highlighted to individuals.  The Electoral Services Manager said that monthly updates on the rolling register were made available.

Following a query from Councillor David Roney, the Electoral Services Manager provided explanation on the data-matching exercise to assist in the transfer to IER and the challenges in obtaining National Insurance numbers.

The Chairman thanked the Electoral Services Manager and her team for their work.

RESOLVED:

That the work of the Elections team and the attempts to encourage greater individual electoral registration be endorsed.