CURRENT estimates are that some 8 million people who are entitled to vote are not registered.

That is 19 per cent of the eligible adult population.

If that were not worrying enough, on December 1 an additional 2 million people could drop off the register in the single biggest act of disenfranchisement in our history. How come?

The government, in spite of warnings from the Electoral Commission that they are rushing the process, is moving to individual voter registration.

That is, it will no longer be permitted for one member of a household to register all the electors, each individual must register themselves.

This, on the surface, seems fair enough.

However, in stable households where there is little movement, registration to vote is liable to be high.

However, in inner-city bedsitter-land, where largely younger occupants move frequently between short-term tenancies, registration will be far lower.

Households in Tory-voting suburbia and rural constituencies tend to be more stable, inner city constituencies are far less likely to vote Conservative.

This change is to be followed by a review of constituency boundaries and a significant reduction in the number of parliamentary seats.

The new boundaries will reflect not the total population of each constituency, but the total of registered electors.  

The outcome of this process will give a built-in over representation for the Conservatives who already have an overall parliamentary majority with just under 37 per cent of the popular vote.

It is therefore essential that every eligible voter is encouraged to register.

I would urge everyone who believes in democracy, regardless of their political preference, to encourage all their families and friends to check that they are registered to vote and, if not, to register now.

– Cllr Bruce Hogan (Lab), Forest of Dean District Council, Lydbrook and Ruardean.