UK Democracy Fund: A million more voters at the next General Election?

This UK Democracy Fund conference will bring together researchers, campaigners, practitioners and policy makers to connect and share learning on voter participation in the UK.

Up to 9.4 million people were not on the electoral register in the run up to the 2019 General Election and many more chose not to vote. These figures, stubbornly high for years, should ring alarm bells for anyone who cares about democracy. The UK Democracy Fund was created to ensure those least likely to vote and have their voices heard – the young, ethnic minority communities, people born overseas, and those who rent or live more precariously – are able to participate in choosing our democratically elected representatives. Without this engagement, there is a very real danger that the inequalities laid bare by the pandemic are perpetuated.

Whilst the case for participation in democracy is broadly accepted, the Every Vote Matters agenda has stalled, and there are concerns about the potential impact of the Elections Bill. This conference will provide opportunities to network, learn and develop solutions to the challenge of under representation, and build momentum for progress.

The event will launch new research, including:

• Maria Sobolewska, University of Manchester, on the electoral participation of black and minority ethnic communities and immigrant voters;

• Nick Pearce, University of Bath, on the age divide in UK politics;

• early findings from an RCT on new methods and messages for engagement of under-represented voters from Florian Foos, LSE, and Peter John, King's College London;

• analysis of the first experience of Votes at 16 in Wales from a collaboration of researchers led by Nottingham Trent University;

• an amazing array of learning from UK Democracy Fund grantees on experience of what works to engage under-represented voters.

Event details:

Places are limited so register as soon as possible to get your spot.

Start: 9.30am for breakfast and networking, with the event starting sharply at 10.30am.

Finish: 3.30 pm

3.30-4.30pm: Optional additional session for activists and campaigners to shape plans and future funding priorities for the UK Democracy Fund.

There will be a networking lunch - which will be a great opportunity to connect with colleagues from across the field. Please make sure you share any access or dietary requirements on your registration form.

Logistics and support for travel expenses:

After many conversations, this conference will be run as an in-person event. Many people are keen to connect with colleagues from across the democracy and electoral participation fields. We recognise that not everybody will want to, or be able to, travel at this time. We will share information from the day with anyone interested, and would be happy to have a follow up discussion with you.

We are undertaking a number of measures in line with guidance and with support of the venue to enable a COVID19 safe environment. We will share our COVID19 guidance with all registered attendees, including requiring delegates to take a lateral flow test in advance of attending the event and encouraging anyone with symptoms to remain at home.

This is a free event, but we also want to make sure that the costs of travel outside of London are not prohibitive to anyone attending. If you would like to discuss how the UK Democracy Fund could help pay for your travel to enable you to attend, simply drop us an email at democracyfund@jrrt.org.uk to discuss your needs.

Photo by Glen Carrie on Unsplash