‘Junk open electoral roll’

LIB-DEM councillors are calling on Oldham Council to support plans to scrap the Open Electoral Register, saying it leads to high levels of “irritating” and environmentally unfriendly junk mail.

Local authorities are currently obliged by law to sell entries from the Open or Edited Register — which contains the personal details of some of those registered to vote — when they are requested by a marketing company.

The move comes after the Local Government Association (LGA) spoke out against the practice, stating it “demeans and cheapens local democracy” as up to 28 million people across the country can have their details sold to junk mail companies.

A motion, to be put forward by Councillor Derek Heffernan at tomorrow’s full council meeting, is urging the council to support the LGA’s position and campaign to have the open register scrapped.

Councillor Heffernan, who represents Saddleworth North, said: “Every day I receive an amount of junk mail through the post. I know that most other residents suffer the same.

“Some appears to be personal and you only discover the truth when you have wasted time opening and reading at least part of it.”

It is estimated that 90 per cent of all junk mail is immediately thrown away.

Around 17.5 billion items of junk mail are produced every year, using 550,000 tonnes of paper and 16.5 billion litres of water.

The motion asks Oldham Council chief executive Carolyn Wilkins to write to Eric Pickles, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, and Oldham MPs.

Two versions of the electoral register are produced each year — a full version and an open one.

The details of everyone entitled to vote appear on the full register, which is not for sale to businesses.

The open register, which can be sold, includes names and addresses of every person who does not tick an opt-out box on their voter registration form.

Hundreds of requests for information from this register are made to councils every year by organisations including marketing firms and estate agents.


How to opt out


Oldhamers can opt out of the Open or Edited Register by contacting the local Electoral Registration Office at Oldham Council on 0161-770 4718 or by emailing election@oldham.gov.uk.

Alternatively, voters can fill in a form online at www.oldham.gov.uk/forms/form/351/en/remove_or_add_your_details_to_the_open_register
Removing your details from the Open or Edited Register does not affect your right to vote.