Scotland’s homeless encouraged ‘exercise your right to vote’

Housing and homeless charity Shelter Scotland has joined forces with the Electoral Commission for the initiative.

As well as urging homeless people to register to vote, it will encourage those living in temporary accommodation and people who are renting properties to put their names on the electoral roll.

Research by the Electoral Commission found last April that only 56 per cent of those living in rented accommodation were registered to vote, compared to 88 per cent of owner occupiers.

Andy O’Neill, head of the Electoral Commission in Scotland, said people living in temporary accommodation may not realise they can still register to vote using their temporary address.

Those with no fixed address are still entitled to vote in the elections, as long as they are aged over 18 and a UK Commonwealth or European Union citizen.

They can register using a temporary address, such as a hostel, or can alternatively make a “declaration of a local connection” – a statement to their local electoral office stating where they spend most of their time. Mr O’Neill said: “We want to make sure everyone who is eligible to vote can vote.”

Shelter Scotland director Graeme Brown said: “We are targeting the hundreds of thousands of people across Scotland who are not on the electoral roll and, therefore, cannot vote.

“This campaign aims to encourage people who may be living in rented, social or temporary housing or are homeless to register to vote, and to make it as easy as possible for them to do so.”

The two organisations teamed up for a similar voter registration campaign ahead of last May’s Holyrood elections.

Mr Brown said they wanted housing to be a priority issue for all parties in the run-up to the local government elections on 3 May. He added: “Shelter Scotland’s thrust is to make housing a priority for all parties in the run-up to the elections and beyond.

“We are sending leaflets, posters and forms to various organisations across Scotland – including housing associations, councils and homelessness service providers – to give people all the information they require to register.

“By registering, people can ensure that if they want to influence the outcome when election day arrives, they will have the opportunity to make their voice heard.”