VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE AND THE ELECTORAL REGISTER

That this House notes the vulnerability of victims of domestic abuse when registering to vote; further notes that full electoral registers are publicly available, causing a genuine threat to the safety of some women; further notes with concern that the current criteria for supporting evidence for anonymous registration applications restricts the number of vulnerable women able to register anonymously; believes that the criteria for qualified persons to provide attestation should be extended to include lawyers, doctors and women's aid workers; and calls on the Government to bring forward proposals to amend the Electoral Administration Act 2006 to strengthen the provision for anonymous registration.