David Mackintosh – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Mackintosh on 2016-03-02.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps are being taken to increase voter engagement with the upcoming European referendum.

John Penrose

The Government is committed to helping ensure that everyone who is eligible to vote in polls is able to do so. The introduction of online registration makes it easier, simpler and faster for people to register to vote. The Government is working with organisations, including Operation Black Vote and Citizens UK, which represent under registered groups to develop solutions to ensure that as many people as possible are able to have their say at the ballot box.

Voter engagement is also influenced by factors such as whether electors feel the poll offers a clear choice on an issue which matters greatly to them and on the energy and effectiveness of the political campaigns behind each side of the debate. These are not under Government’s direct control, but we hope that the decision to hold the referendum in the first place, as promised in our election manifesto, will nonetheless help.