Improving the electoral register through data matching
An evaluation of pilots testing data matching to identify new electors and improve the completeness and accuracy of the electoral register.
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This report presents the Cabinet Office’s evaluation of the 2012 pilots testing data matching for the purposes of identifying new electors.
Ensuring that the registers are as complete and accurate as possible and that levels of completeness and accuracy do not decline under Individual Electoral Registration (IER) is a key aim of the government. Data matching, where records on the electoral register are matched against public data, could assist in ensuring that the registers remain as complete and accurate as possible.
This paper presents the results of an evaluation of Cabinet Office pilots set up to test data matching specifically for the purposes of identifying potential new electors. This enables Electoral Registration Officers to invite them to join the register. The aim of this data matching was to increase registrations amongst specific groups that are traditionally under-registered, namely:
- students
- attainers (16/17 year olds who will turn 18 during the life of the register)
- recent home-movers