Changes to guard against voting fraud

OLDHAM is to receive almost £80,000 from the Government to help bring about changes to the electoral register, aimed at boosting its security and accuracy.

A new system of registering to vote individually will mean an end to the current form, where the ‘head of the household’ fills in the names of everyone who is eligible to vote in the property. In recent years, the old system has been seen by critics as flawed, inaccurate and open to abuse for political gain.

Next summer, every person will take individual responsibility for registering their details and online registration will be available.

Local authorities across Greater Manchester have been given a total of £1,075,122 which the Government says will help meet the extra costs involved with switching to individual registration.

A national formula has been used to calculate what each area needs to cover the cost of the data-matching process which will ensure the vast majority of the population will transfer automatically on to the new electoral register.

The Government said the new change is part of its wider aims to improve public confidence in elections and, along with the introduction of online registration, make registering to vote more convenient.

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