Agenda item

Individual Electoral Registration

It was moved by Councillor Julie Dore, seconded by Councillor Jackie Drayton, that this Council:

(a)      notes that 5th February is Voter Registration Day and encourages all Sheffield people to register to vote;

(b)      welcomes the recent action taken by the Council to attempt to encourage more people to register to vote and believes this action is more important than ever due to the Government’s introduction of Individual Electoral Registration;

(c)       is concerned by reports that the Individual Electoral Registration risks millions of people falling off the register especially the young, students, some minority ethnic communities and private renting tenants; and

(d)      notes that the previous Government set out a more responsible approach implementing a voluntary system until late in 2015 and would delay further if the Electoral Commission had concerns and believes that the Government should think again about rushing the implementation of these reforms and beginning the introduction of Individual Electoral Registration this year.

Whereupon, it was moved by Councillor Shaffaq Mohammed, seconded by Councillor Roger Davison, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by:-

1.         the deletion of paragraphs (c) and (d); and

2.         the addition of new paragraphs (c) and (d) as follows:-

(c)       supports the Government’s move towards Individual Electoral Registration and recognises the importance of Liberal Democrats in improving this legislation; and

(d)      regrets that following the Electoral Commission’s 2003 recommendation that the United Kingdom move to Individual Electoral Registration, the last Government dithered for seven years instead of taking the necessary action.

On being put to the vote, the amendment was negatived. 

It was then moved by Councillor Nikki Bond, seconded by Councillor Mazher Iqbal, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by the addition of a new paragraph (d) as follows and the re-lettering of original paragraph (d) as a new paragraph (e):-

(d)      notes with concern the implications of this policy on Sheffield as a city with a high student population and communities with high numbers of ethnic minority residents.

On being put to the vote the amendment was carried.

The original Motion, as amended, was then put as a Substantive Motion in the following form and carried:

RESOLVED:  That this Council:-

(a)      notes that 5th February is Voter Registration Day and encourages all Sheffield people to register to vote;

(b)      welcomes the recent action taken by the Council to attempt to encourage more people to register to vote and believes this action is more important than ever due to the Government’s introduction of Individual Electoral Registration;

(c)       is concerned by reports that the Individual Electoral Registration risks millions of people falling off the register especially the young, students, some minority ethnic communities and private renting tenants;

(d)      notes with concern the implications of this policy on Sheffield as a city with a high student population and communities with high numbers of ethnic minority residents; and

(e)      notes that the previous Government set out a more responsible approach implementing a voluntary system until late in 2015 and would delay further if the Electoral Commission had concerns and believes that the Government should think again about rushing the implementation of these reforms and beginning the introduction of Individual Electoral Registration this year.

(Note: 1. Councillors Simon Clement-Jones, Shaffaq Mohammed, Rob Frost, Colin Ross, Penny Baker, Diana Stimely, Roger Davison, Sue Alston, Andrew Sangar, Cliff Woodcraft, Denise Reaney, Ian Auckland, Bob McCann, Anders Hanson, Katie Condliffe, David Baker and Trevor Bagshaw voted for Paragraphs (a), (b), (c) and (d) and against Paragraph (e) of the Substantive Motion and asked for this to be recorded.

2. Councillors Robert Murphy and Jillian Creasy voted for Paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) and abstained on paragraphs (d) and (e) of the Substantive Motion and asked for this to be recorded.)