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Ban benefits for those not registered to vote, says MP
http://www.x404.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=19440		 Page 1 of 2
Author:  Amnesia10 [ Wed Jul 17, 2013 6:26 pm ]
Post subject:  Ban benefits for those not registered to vote, says MP
Ban benefits for those not registered to vote, says MP

Quote:
People who are not registered to vote should not expect to get state pensions and other benefits, says a Labour MP.

Siobhain McDonagh wants to bring in a bill that would make access to public services dependent on being on the electoral roll.

She said it would restore millions to the electoral register at a stroke and "ensure they engage" in democracy.

The Electoral Commission estimates that at least 6m people were not registered to vote in Britain in December 2010.

Introducing her Ten Minute Rule bill in the Commons, Mitcham and Morden MP Ms McDonagh said: "Registering to vote is just about the nearest thing that this country has to a social contract. It's a recognition that we live in a democracy and we abide by the rules of that democracy.

'Great concern'
Quoting figures from just before the 2010 general election, suggesting 3.5m people were not registered to vote, she said it was mostly the young, disadvantaged, private rental tenants, ethnic minorities or disabled people.
Author:  davrosG5 [ Wed Jul 17, 2013 6:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Ban benefits for those not registered to vote, says MP
While I'm wholeheartedly in favour of measures to encourage participation in the political process this strikes me as rather heavy handed and rather unlikely to result in participation.

For a start, just being on the electoral role doesn't mean people will vote. I suspect that all that will be achieved is having an extra bunch of people on the role who don't vote. Plus, unless there is clear advice, how many of those people will end up on the edited register and ripe for having their details sold on for a fast buck?

If you want more people to vote then you have to provide a compelling reason to do so and some sort of evidence that voting for you/your party won't just end up delivering what amounts to more of the same.
Author:  ShockWaffle [ Wed Jul 17, 2013 7:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Ban benefits for those not registered to vote, says MP
Voting is a right, not a duty. Not voting is equally a right.

Attempts to coerce or manipulate the uninterested into participating in a political life that they have every right not to take part in are no doubt well-intentioned, but still wrong. It's paternalistic to assume that you know how others should pursue their own happiness, and that's the kindest possible interpretation of plans like this one.
Author:  mikepgood [ Wed Jul 17, 2013 8:16 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Ban benefits for those not registered to vote, says MP
So if you don't register to vote you don't have to pay tax or NI.
Author:  Amnesia10 [ Wed Jul 17, 2013 8:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Ban benefits for those not registered to vote, says MP
mikepgood wrote:
So if you don't register to vote you don't have to pay tax or NI.

Many would be worried that the government would reattempt another poll tax.
Author:  bobbdobbs [ Wed Jul 17, 2013 9:00 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Ban benefits for those not registered to vote, says MP
So labours tactic is to out tory the tories... that will be a vote winner in thier heartlands.

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Author:  paulzolo [ Thu Jul 18, 2013 9:18 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Ban benefits for those not registered to vote, says MP
bobbdobbs wrote:
So labours tactic is to out tory the tories... that will be a vote winner in thier heartlands.


They aren’t chasing their heartlands. All the parties are chasing the same floating voter demographic in marginal constituencies. That is why they all sound the same. It only takes on party to strongly agree with the Daily Mail mentality for them all to fall into place. This is why they are all clacking on about the same things.

I live in a safe Tory constituency. At every general election I have been to, I have heard not a peep from my MP. Labour really don’t bother, and the Lib Dems just carry on being power-hungry. The thing is that all safe seats will be ignored in favour of the marginals. That’s how it works.
Author:  l3v1ck [ Thu Jul 18, 2013 9:44 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Ban benefits for those not registered to vote, says MP
That's the dumbest suggestion I've heard in years.
It serves no use. It doesn't (and indeed shouldn't) compel people to vote.
If politicians are failing to stir the public into voting, that's their fault, not the public's.
And if people don't care, why should they be forced to vote, diluting down the opinion of those who do care by adding randomness to the outcome.

There are plenty of people who don't join the electoral register to maintain their privacy too.
Quote:
People who are not registered to vote should not expect to get state pensions and other benefits, says a Labour MP.

People who've paid their taxes and NI contributions should expect to get state pensions and other benefits. Voting has nothing to do with it.
Author:  hifidelity2 [ Thu Jul 18, 2013 9:45 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Ban benefits for those not registered to vote, says MP
ShockWaffle wrote:
Voting is a right, not a duty. Not voting is equally a right.

In some countries (Australia is 1 I think) you are required to vote by law and are fined if you don't

You can spoil your ballot but you have to vote
Author:  saspro [ Thu Jul 18, 2013 9:55 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Ban benefits for those not registered to vote, says MP
They're only saying you have to be registered not actually vote.

If you're registered then you're on the database. This means councils can check against it when issuing benefits etc and stops people registering in 2 different councils and committing benefit fraud (as most council systems don't talk to each other)
Author:  finlay666 [ Thu Jul 18, 2013 12:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Ban benefits for those not registered to vote, says MP
I thought you had to be registered to vote legally anyway, that said it was never high on my to-do list moving house
Author:  l3v1ck [ Thu Jul 18, 2013 12:09 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Ban benefits for those not registered to vote, says MP
saspro wrote:
They're only saying you have to be registered not actually vote.

If you're registered then you're on the database. This means councils can check against it when issuing benefits etc and stops people registering in 2 different councils and committing benefit fraud (as most council systems don't talk to each other)

You can register to vote in as many wards as you want. As long as you only vote in one of them at any given election you're acting in a legal way.
Students are a prime example of that. They can register to vote at home and where they go to university. They actually vote at which ever place they happen to be on election day.
Author:  Amnesia10 [ Thu Jul 18, 2013 2:56 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Ban benefits for those not registered to vote, says MP
hifidelity2 wrote:
In some countries (Australia is 1 I think) you are required to vote by law and are fined if you don't

You can spoil your ballot but you have to vote

That is a better option than linking it to benefits.
Author:  ShockWaffle [ Thu Jul 18, 2013 7:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Ban benefits for those not registered to vote, says MP
bobbdobbs wrote:
So labours tactic is to out tory the tories... that will be a vote winner in their heartlands.

You realise this isn't a Labour Party policy, it's just a 10 minute bill introduced by a meaningless backbencher. The only purpose of these is to get a couple of column inches in the local newspaper.

It's highly unusual for anyone to notice these things. And we really shouldn't exaggerate its importance.
Author:  bobbdobbs [ Fri Jul 19, 2013 12:30 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Ban benefits for those not registered to vote, says MP
ShockWaffle wrote:
bobbdobbs wrote:
So labours tactic is to out tory the tories... that will be a vote winner in their heartlands.

You realise this isn't a Labour Party policy, it's just a 10 minute bill introduced by a meaningless backbencher. The only purpose of these is to get a couple of column inches in the local newspaper.

It's highly unusual for anyone to notice these things. And we really shouldn't exaggerate its importance.
or its trialing a possible future policy and see what the reaction is.

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