New law to automatically register voters will 'remove barriers', Welsh government claims
Voters would still have to register to vote in general elections as responsibility lies with the UK government.
Monday 2 October 2023 14:18, UK
A new law which would see voters in Wales automatically registered for elections will "remover barriers", the Welsh government claims.
Under a bill introduced today, automatic registration would take place for elections to the Senedd and local councils.
But voters in Wales would still have to register to vote in general elections to elect a representative to Westminster.
Responsibility for those elections lies with the UK government, but Senedd and council elections are devolved to Cardiff Bay.
"Our ambition is for changes to be in place in time for the next major devolved and local elections in 2026 and 2027," said Counsel General Mick Antoniw.
Under separate proposals, Senedd elections would be held every four years to elect 96 members rather than the current 60.
A pilot programme will be completed before any future rollout of automatic voter registration, the Welsh government said.
Local authorities will be invited to take part in pilots which will look at the best way to collect data.
Canada and Finland are among the countries where voters are currently registered automatically.
The Welsh government says it would look to use data that already exists.
Voting will be made "simpler" under the plans in the Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill, particularly for young people and those who have moved to Wales from elsewhere, according to the government.
Jess Blair, director of Electoral Reform Society Cymru, said the legislation would "bring democracy in Wales in to the 21st century".
In 2022, only 87% of adults in Great Britain were registered to vote, based on mid-2021 ONS population estimates.
The Welsh Conservatives - the largest opposition party in the Senedd - said the changes would "cause unnecessary confusion" as they would only apply to some elections.
Shadow constitution minister, Darren Millar, said was "a right, not an obligation" and voters should be given an "opt-out" choice.
As part of the bill, government ministers will be required to set up an online platform containing information about Welsh elections, and a fund to help disabled people standing as candidates.
The fund will help with additional costs such as mobility equipment and communication software.
This was previously trialled in the May 2021 Senedd elections and the local government elections last year.