Source · Select Committees · Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
Recommendation 51
51
Accepted in Part
Explore using existing government data to identify voters needing assistance at polling stations.
Recommendation
The Government should explore whether existing data held by the Government could be used to allow those most likely to be in need of assistance to be contacted. This information should be used to better inform returning officers of the equipment that may be needed in particular polling stations. (Recommendation, Paragraph 130) Voter ID and voter fraud
Government Response Summary
The government agrees to explore how existing government data might be used to identify and contact voters needing assistance and to inform returning officers, acknowledging data protection considerations and stating it will consider this further.
Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government
Accepted in Part
Further, the Government’s Accessibility of Elections Working Group provides a forum to promulgate awareness via representative organisations working with disabled people, the elections delivery sector and other relevant groups and governments across the nations of the UK. The use of data already held by organisations is subject to data protection provisions relating to the basis on which it was collected. However, we are keen to investigate ways in which existing data held by the Government may be used–as was previously done with information on sight loss registers–and will be considering this further.