News Release

17th February 2005

WILL SERVICEMEN BE ABLE TO VOTE?

Michael Fabricant has expressed concern that many servicemen in the midlands, including the Whittington Barracks near Lichfield, will find themselves unable to vote come the next general election. "A change in the law means that many servicemen have lost their right to vote" says Michael. "It is essential that they register before the deadline of March 11th and that all base commanders make sure that everyone in their charge who is entitled to vote, has got the vote".

The Representation of the People Act 2000 changed the method by which service voters registered and voted. This was brought into effect because of fears that the identification of service voters on a register by the letter S next to their names could lead to terrorist attack. More servicemen and women live off base than previously.

At the same time, postal voting on demand was allowed. The changes introduced the requirement for servicemen to register annually, in the same way as other electors, by either applying for a service vote or responding to a request from an electoral registration officer to complete the normal registration form.

Since then, there has been a huge drop in the number of servicemen registered to vote. This is partly due to servicemen and women not having realised the change and not having received a registration form from the electoral registration officer.