I even read a tweet about a person receiving a letter from a local MP welcoming two new voters at his address...when there had been no changes to his household.
Now it appears that the Cabinet Secretary for Social Welfare, Alex Neil, has found that, despite voting at all elections and in the Independence referendum from his address of 28 years, he no longer appears on the register.
I'm not suggesting any jiggery pokery here. The changes were actually brought in by the UK government to try to stamp out corruption in the voting system. Previously the head of the household registered each person in his or her home. This gave folk the opportunity to invent non-existent members of their household, claim postal voting privilege, and thus distort the vote.
Now it is the responsibility of every person to register themselves, and to do so with their National Insurance number adn proof of identity.You should have had a letter in October to inform you whether you needed to do this or not (presumably if you live alone there would be no need to update). Even if you responded to that letter (as you imagine Alex Neil would have), it may be necessary to make a check.
According to the Electoral Commission: “Anyone who registered for the independence referendum will remain registered unless they have moved address”. However, that claim is contradicted by the experiences of Airdrie and Shotts MSP Neil and Highlands MSP Rob Gibson.
To be safe Munguin and I suggest that you contact the Electoral Services or Electoral Registration department of your local council to ensure that you are eligible to vote. You may be able to do this on line. There's no point in waiting till the day of the election and finding yourself turned away.
This election is far too important to allow that to happen, no matter how you intend to vote.
you and Munguin will be delighted to know that I'm confirmed (by letter!) to be on the electoral register. Jim Murphy may be less happy though given his reported 1% lead over the SNP! Did another of those which party suits you best quizzes - still Green but they didn't stand last time and tactical voting essential in circumstances.
ReplyDeleteWe are indeed most pleased PP!!! In fact I see Munguin's champagne glass needs topping up, and I may have another soda water myself! :)
DeleteAs I say, I think that the changes were for the best, but needless to say whenever they mess with massive computer databases, something goes awry.
But we have until sometime in April to ensure that the databases are up to date. As you say Morphy will doubtless be less pleased than Munguin and I, but at least he'll maybe be giving the Irn Bru a rest tonight.
It's a shame she's so associated with Irn Bru. I didn't drink it often. I prefer fruit juice, but if it's going to be a fizzy drink I like Vimto. However someone suggested it to me the other day on a picnic, and I declined. It somehow doesn't seem the same any more.
I too am confirmed as is my Hubby that I have the right to vote, as with Panda Paws and I shall take this said letter with me when I go to vote believe me.
ReplyDeleteYep, good one Helena.
DeleteHow's wee Hektor, today?
Thanks for asking, he is doing fine, he has really never been up or down. Still got his buster collar on, he is keeping it on till we are in a position to ensure he does no harm to his eye, too damned expensive this time for anything to be allowed to happen, he managed to get one of his stitches out when he had his Entropion op. One swipe of the paw was all it took. You will know this from Munguin, they are tyrants these two.
DeleteNothing but trouble...although Munguin tends to cost more in Quails Eggs and Vintage Chamagne!
DeleteHim being a media mogul!
He also instead on being a wee Munguin in a Gold hat. Tin is obviously for the lessers!
Tris
ReplyDeleteI don't think there is anything dodgy about this, well not as dodgy as Scottish Labour and postal voting. I also received letters but will do a wee double check as you never know, it is Dundee with its under staffed and over worked council employees.
Bruce
That's right, Bruce. The move was brought in across the union with a view to trying to stop the postal voting scams of yesterday.
DeleteThere will be people who are not verified or confirmed under the new system BUT THEY CAN STILL VOTE - it may prevent them voting by post or proxy and we need to be aware of that but they can vote in person at the polling station.
ReplyDeleteWhen they receive their poll card it will tell them if they are not yet verified should they want to get a postal or proxy and how to go about it.
Across Grampian as a whole, which is 7 constituencies there are 2,000 proxy voters being written to by the ERO to remind them of what they need to do.
The ERO is not concerned about levels of registration and is confident that the transition process is robust and fair and will work.
Alex Neil is actually registered and on the roll - just not verified - but the National missed that unforunately. So he can vote.
Thanks for that clarification Aucheron.
DeleteI'd still advise everyone to make double sure, so that they have no issues or embarrassments on the polling day.
This ins't a party political thing. I'm sure there are voters of every colour who have found themselves unverified. I applaud the union government for making the changes, and I understand that understaffed and hard pressed electoral registration departments were probably cause d a lot of extra work, with no extra funding, for the changes.
I had the letter confirming that I was still registered but, on checking the register (online) Arlene and I seemed not to be on it!? I registered online and have had an email, confirming, that we are now registered.
ReplyDeleteAs you say mistakes are often made, changing data bases and may just be that an online check automatically needs you to re-register.
It's best to be safe, if you can, and visit the office to ensure that you are registered, or at least talk to them on the phone.
DeleteKeep the email. You just might need it.
I fully intend to. (Keep the email)
DeleteI heard that there are particular worries for students.
ReplyDeleteIf you're a student, make sure you are on the register.