Young people and students to give evidence to Lords Electoral Registration Act Committee

The Committee hopes to learn more about youth and student electoral participation and about the work of the British Election Study, in particular its studies of the effects of the individual registration system.

Giving evidence to the Committee at 3.30pm will be:

• Kira Lewis, Trustee, British Youth Council
• Conor Ryan, Director of External Relations, Office for Students
• Claire Sosienski Smith, Vice President for Higher Education, National Union of Students.

Questions the Committee is likely to ask include:

• What were the levels of registration, engagement and participation of young people and students at the recent election?
•  There were reports of a backlash against academics who highlighted that it is possible for students to register at both their home and student address. What can be done to combat this misunderstanding?
• What impact has the introduction of individual electoral registration (IER) had on students and young people?
• How effective is the Cabinet Office's democratic engagement work, including National Democracy Week and other Government-led or supported voter registration drives targeting young people?
• What reforms would help boost registration rates of students and young people?

At 4.30pm the Committee will hear from Dr Chris Prosser, University of Manchester, British Election Study (BES).

Questions the Committee is likely to ask include:

• What data does BES collect and how does it use it?How does BES assess levels of electoral registration?
• What were the main findings of the research carried out by BES and the Electoral Commission on the impact of IER?
• How has IER and online registration changed the relationship between eligible voters and registered voters? What implications does this have for the electoral process?
• This was the third UK general election since IER was introduced. What conclusions can be drawn about how the IER system is functioning? What deficiencies need to be addressed?

These evidence sessions, which are open to the public, will start at 3.30pm on Tuesday 4 February 2020 in Committee Room 4 of the House of Lords. Alternatively, you can watch them on parliamentlive.tv