Currently, London has the lowest levels of voter registration of any other region in England and Wales, with sometimes up to 30% of a neighbourhood failing to register. The problem is particularly bad among young people, those in rented accommodation and black and minority groups, and it is hoped that charitable organisations will help the government reach these isolated areas of the community.

The Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, said: 'What happens in parliament, at City Hall, or on a local council can make a huge difference to Londoners. The best way to influence these things is at the ballot box. Nearly one in five Londoners do not have the right to vote because they are not on the electoral register. That is a huge democratic deficit, and it means thousands of Londoners do not have the right to have a say over issues that affect their everyday lives.”

A partnership between the Department for Constitutional Affairs, Minister for London, Mayor’s Office, Electoral Commission, Association of London Government, electoral administrators, plus a number of London voluntary and community organisations, is to use multi-media and marketing tools to highlight the issue of voter registration in London in time for the May 2006 elections.

Jamie Baker, electoral services officer at Southwark Council, said: “We will be working with a variety of outside organisations to increase awareness of the electoral register, as, for example, most people don’t know that they need to register every year to vote. Various events are in the planning stages and it is likely we will repeat last year’s workshops for third sector groups, which gave an overview of how they can help get their communities registered.

For further information, visit www.electoralcommission.org.uk