Second-home voters may lose right to pick seats
The government is considering stripping second-home owners of the right to choose which constituency they vote in for general elections.
Cabinet Office minister John Taylor told peers this afternoon that a review of existing arrangements was underway.
At present those owning a second home in a constituency other than the one where their main residence is are allowed to be on the electoral roll in both seats.
They can choose which constituency to cast their vote for in a general election – and are allowed to vote in elections for both local authorities, even if they occur on the same day.
“The government has no current plans to restrict the rights of second-home owners,” Lord Taylor of Holbeach told peers, before adding that changes to the present system are being given further consideration by the government.
“This is a matter which the government is reviewing,” he said. “But indeed it is a longstanding tradition that people can register in two different addresses where they have an interest in the outcome.”
Liberal Democrat peer Robin Teverson raised the issue in the Lords after telling politics.co.uk he believed the only “fair and equitable” solution is one where people only vote in the constituency where they have their main residence.
Two marginal seats in Cornwall at the general election swung from Lib Dem to the Conservatives with majorities of under 1,000.
Many local Lib Dems feel the votes of those owning holiday homes in the constituency who do not spend much time there was a significant factor in these results.
“There’s a fairly strong feeling there that where people register their votes could affect the outcome of a general election,” Lord Teverson said.
“They can make a choice and use their vote where it has potentially the greatest value. As we know in our current electoral system and perhaps because of different sizes of constituencies, different votes have different values.”
Another group who are permitted to register in two constituencies are students, who do not know where they will be living when a general election is called.
Under present rules, the Electoral Commission spokesperson explained, voters in this position are free to select which seat they cast their vote in as they wish.
A spokesperson said the scenario was allowed “where it’s legitimate you might want to have a say on the issues” in either seat.
Cornwall council, where Lord Teverson is a councillor, is seeking legal clarification on the issue – despite the fact that it is Conservative-controlled.
“It is genuinely felt across the parties that full-time members of the community who should decide who their member of parliament is,” he added.
