2023-03-22
Martin Geddes is (again) taking the bull by the horns.
And an interesting and informative process it may well turn out to be.
Removing one's name from the electoral register sounds simple enough, so why shouldn't one?
Now it is true that the register is used for a number of purposes other than the electoral system, but those purposes are not necessarily our problem.
And whereas a sudden influx of deregistration requests might cause the authorities some unease, it would leave the electoral field open to the established incumbent powers, so some may feel that it isn't the right approach. Still, the somewhat cynical counter-argument - that voting doesn't make a lot of difference whomsoever we vote for - does have force these days.
If enough people were to deregister, it would amount to a scathing vote of no confidence in the system and we wouldn't even need to wait for an election to deliver it!
And after all, despite many exhortations to sign up every time an election comes around, one is not, as far as I know, legally obliged to do so (although you won't be able vote if you don't).
So why should you not be permitted to deregister?
