In a year where nearly half the global population is heading to the polls and the UK general election fast approaching, campaigns are coalescing around the important issue of encouraging citizens to exercise their democratic rights. Hogan Lovells has collaborated with The Politics Project to produce ‘The Voter Handbook’, which is designed to provide employers with a non-partisan way to encourage voter participation amongst employees by disseminating clear information on how to vote. The Handbook covers who can vote in UK parliamentary general elections, voter registration, the different methods of voting and voter ID requirements, and was created in line with Electoral Commission guidance.
We have also put together a Guide to the Handbook, which explains to employers the purpose of the Handbook, and other steps they can take to encourage voter participation amongst employees. The Voter Handbook offers a way for employers to engage with their employees in a way that is constructive, non-partisan and sensitive to the diversity of their employee base. Evidence shows that companies that carry out corporate voter engagement, can make a meaningful impact on voter turnout.
A 2023 report by the Electoral Commission estimated that up to eight million people were missing from the electoral register in the UK and that millions more were not registered accurately. These stark statistics tell only part of the story – only 47% of 18-25 year olds voted in the 2019 general election and 4.3 million young people are not registered to vote, whereas over-65s were most likely to vote (with an estimated turnout of 74% in 2019). Hogan Lovells has extensive experience supporting campaigns that encourage under-represented groups to vote, such as the Give an X campaign, which promotes the registration of youth voters, including by advising them pro bono on electoral law considerations.
On 3 June, The Politics Project, Hogan Lovells and the In House Pro Bono Group hosted a Hackathon, showcasing some of the biggest non-partisan voter registration campaigns in the UK, including Democracy Classroom, My Life My Say and Citizens UK.
We hope you find the Voter Handbook useful and if you have any questions please contact Yasmin Waljee, Alex Sciannaca, Telha Arshad or Maddy Vincent. Further resources are also available on the Elections Hub.
Authored by Telha Arshad and Maddy Vincent.
