HC Deb 17 February 1970 vol 796 c107W
Mr. Brooks

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many electors were potentially able to vote in the General Election in 1966; how many did so, and of these how many he estimates were not citizens of the United Kingdom; and what is his estimate of the total potential electorate and the number of non-United Kingdom citizens on the present electoral register.

Mr. Merlyn Rees

At the 1966 General Election 27,264,747 votes were polled out of a United Kingdom electorate of 35,957,245. The total potential United Kingdom electorate now is about 40.5 million. The other information requested is not available.

Mr. Brooks

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what checks he carries out to exclude from voting those who possess the citizenship of another country.

Mr. Merlyn Rees

It is the duty of the electoral registration officer to include in the register persons appearing to him to be entitled to vote and to determine, subject to an appeal to the courts, objections to any person's registration.