Stupid question, but do you have to register in advance to be able to vote? Why is that? In Germany, every citizen eligible to vote gets the necessary documents automatically by mail.
Haven’t bothered going in a while, as I live in a “safe” constituency held by the one party I dislike the least out of the two parties to choose from, but if I recall correctly, you only have to register with your specific polling station when you move to another residency. Although you also have to apply for a specific voting photo-ID for each election if you don’t already have a driver’s license or other govt-issued photoID.
Neither is an automatic process, and the only thing we get in the mail without asking for it is notification that an election is about to happen, and various adverts from each of the parties running.
there is no law requiring you to register in the UK
You’re talking bollocks.
"What happens if you do not register
You must register to vote if you’re asked to do so and you meet the conditions for registering, for example you’re 16 or over and you’re British or a national of an EU or Commonwealth country.
If you’re asked to register and do not, you could be fined."
You are registered with your name and address by birth and are required to update your information if you move. It’s actually pretty close to the UK system I believe, just that it’s automatic and not called voter registration.
Worth noting things like jury service are selected from the electoral register. So you are basically opting in to democratic society.
I guess the government would also need to collect citizen data unnecessarily without consent in order to be automatically opted in. The UK is actually kind of libertarian in some aspects in autonomy around identity and right to be known to the government, etc. Although it would be basically impossible to actually function in the society and not be on some form of system, you could probably exist without anything more than your birth being registered.
It’s an offence to refuse to provide your details. It’s compulsory, not optional. I’ve had someone come to my front door and demand I fill in the form.
You must register to vote if you’re asked to do so and you meet the conditions for registering, for example you’re 16 or over and you’re British or a national of an EU or Commonwealth country.
If you’re asked to register and do not, you could be fined.
You shouldnt confidently state things that you are uninformed about
Usually it’s one of those things you do when your move house. Every now and again they will send a form to confirm the entries are correct and if nothing has changed you just tick there box and send it back (or reply online). People who move a lot or bounce between two addresses (e.g. students) are usually the ones that drop through the cracks.
Stupid question, but do you have to register in advance to be able to vote? Why is that? In Germany, every citizen eligible to vote gets the necessary documents automatically by mail.
Haven’t bothered going in a while, as I live in a “safe” constituency held by the one party I dislike the least out of the two parties to choose from, but if I recall correctly, you only have to register with your specific polling station when you move to another residency. Although you also have to apply for a specific voting photo-ID for each election if you don’t already have a driver’s license or other govt-issued photoID.
Neither is an automatic process, and the only thing we get in the mail without asking for it is notification that an election is about to happen, and various adverts from each of the parties running.
In Germany you have ‘meldepflicht’, but there is no law requiring you to register in the UK.
You’re talking bollocks.
"What happens if you do not register
You must register to vote if you’re asked to do so and you meet the conditions for registering, for example you’re 16 or over and you’re British or a national of an EU or Commonwealth country.
If you’re asked to register and do not, you could be fined."
– https://www.gov.uk/electoral-register
Can you find a single example of a fine occurring?
How do the people who send the necessary documents know where to send them and to whom?
You are registered with your name and address by birth and are required to update your information if you move. It’s actually pretty close to the UK system I believe, just that it’s automatic and not called voter registration.
Worth noting things like jury service are selected from the electoral register. So you are basically opting in to democratic society.
I guess the government would also need to collect citizen data unnecessarily without consent in order to be automatically opted in. The UK is actually kind of libertarian in some aspects in autonomy around identity and right to be known to the government, etc. Although it would be basically impossible to actually function in the society and not be on some form of system, you could probably exist without anything more than your birth being registered.
It’s an offence to refuse to provide your details. It’s compulsory, not optional. I’ve had someone come to my front door and demand I fill in the form.
It’s not an offence to refuse to register to vote. You sure you weren’t being scammed?
https://www.gov.uk/electoral-register
What happens if you do not register
You must register to vote if you’re asked to do so and you meet the conditions for registering, for example you’re 16 or over and you’re British or a national of an EU or Commonwealth country.
If you’re asked to register and do not, you could be fined.
You shouldnt confidently state things that you are uninformed about
Usually it’s one of those things you do when your move house. Every now and again they will send a form to confirm the entries are correct and if nothing has changed you just tick there box and send it back (or reply online). People who move a lot or bounce between two addresses (e.g. students) are usually the ones that drop through the cracks.
Oh so it’s basically the same as in Germany, only here you are required to register if you move and it’s not called voter registration. Thanks!
You do. I don’t know why, really. Sounds like the German system is better!
It used to be automatic, but the Tories changed it. Probably to stop too many students voting for somebody else.