Press release

Electoral registration system is changing this autumn

Over the autumn, all Perth & Kinross Council residents will receive a letter through
the post telling them about a change to the electoral registration system.
Individual Electoral Registration (IER), which came into effect on 19 September,
replaces the household registration system that has existed for almost a century with
a requirement to register individually.
The Electoral Registration Officer for Perth & Kinross Council will write to all electors
across the council area to inform them of the change to the registration system.
Many electors will automatically move onto the new electoral register. However,
some will need to take action to join or remain on it, which they will now be able to do
online for the first time.
Alastair Kirkwood, Electoral Registration Officer for Perth & Kinross Council, said:
All electors will receive a letter at the end of October 2014 that will explain the
change to the electoral registration system. Look out for the letter as it will tell you if
you have been automatically transferred to the new register or not. If you have not
been transferred, you will need to provide some additional information and the letter
will tell you exactly what you need to do.
Legislation providing for the introduction of IER was first introduced by the last UK
Government and was followed up by the Electoral Registration and Administration
Act 2013 that was introduced by the current UK Government. This legislation
ensured that the move to IER in Scotland would not begin until after the referendum,
although it began in England and Wales on 10 June.
Andy ONeill, Head of Scotland Office at the Electoral Commission, said:
This autumn the Electoral Commission will launch an advertising campaign that will
raise awareness of the change to Individual Electoral Registration. No one will come
off the current electoral register because of this change until after next years UK
Parliamentary General Election at the earliest. We will run further campaigns next
year to help inform people across Scotland of the change to the registration system.
For more information visit www.gov.uk/yourvotematters.
If you do not receive a letter contact The Electoral Registration Officer for Perth &
Kinross Council on 01738 630303 or perth@tayside-vjb.gov.uk
Ends