A CAMPAIGN AIMED at encouraging voters who are currently missing from the electoral roll in Moray to register in time for the Scottish Parliamentary elections has been launched.
The drive has been kicked off by Shelter Scotland and the Electoral Commission and hopes to encourage those living in rented or temporary accommodation or homeless people to sign up for their right to vote.
Figures published by the Commission show that over a third of those who rent from a private landlord are yet to appear on the voters roll – compared to just over 6% of those owing their own home outright and 11% who own their home with a mortgage.
Richard Lochhead MSP said: “This is a very welcome campaign and I commend Shelter Scotland and the Electoral Commission’s work – nobody in Moray should find themselves disenfranchised simply because of their living situation and it’s important that we do everything we can to ensure as many people as possible are signed up to vote.
“One of the great successes of the independence referendum was the level of engagement and voter participation that swept across our communities in the weeks and months before September 18th.
“Never before have so many people signed up to have their say in the democratic process in Scotland – it is vitally important that we aim to retain this level of voter participation as we move in to the Scottish Parliament election campaign.
“The Scottish Parliament election is about how we keep Moray and Scotland moving forward and build on the progress we’ve made since 2007 – and it’s vitally important that everyone’s voice is heard as Scotland’s national debate takes place over the next 100 days.”