Welshpool voters to trial Automatic Registration System

Welshpool voters will be among those across Powys taking part in a new automatic voter registration pilot scheme aimed at making democratic participation more accessible.

The pilot will test new approaches to registering voters without requiring formal applications, focusing exclusively on the local government register which is also used for Senedd elections.

Powys is one of four local authorities participating in the Welsh Government initiative. The county will be involved in two different approaches: creating a replica register using locally held data to test which sources best identify potential electors, and using council held data to identify and verify potential voters before adding them to the register.

Residents identified through the pilot will soon receive notification letters explaining the process and their options, including the right to opt out. There will be a 60-day response period before anyone is added to the register.

The scheme includes safeguards for privacy, with the Welsh Government confirming that new electors will not be added to the open version of the local government register, which is available for marketing purposes.

Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government, Jayne Bryant, said: "By removing barriers to registration, this pioneering work is helping to ensure everyone can participate in our democratic process, particularly young people and traditionally underrepresented groups.

"This initiative follows our extension of voting rights to 16 and 17-year-olds and qualifying foreign nationals for Senedd and local elections, demonstrating our ongoing commitment to a more inclusive democracy in Wales."

The Electoral Commission will evaluate all pilots by the end of this year. The Welsh Government will then consider the findings before making decisions on any nationwide implementation of automatic voter registration, which would require further legislation.

Other local authorities participating in the scheme include Carmarthenshire, Gwynedd and Newport, with Gwynedd's pilot including additional outreach work targeting harder-to-reach communities.