Your democracy is under threat - do something to save it!

I'm not one for hyperbolae normally, but the proposal to make electoral registration voluntary risks disenfranchising millions of people - women, ethnic minorities, the young - and changing the electoral landscape of this country forever.

As a member of the Management Board of 'Unlock Democracy', I am asking you to write to your MP, urging them to support the retention of mandatory registration. I admit that the idea of mandation is a tricky one - some of my more libertarian colleagues might rightly question whether or not the freedom to exclude oneself from the democratic process is a good thing - but if it is made voluntary, there will be a huge upsurge in the number of those who do not appear on the electoral register.

We already have a problem in this country with a significant number of people who avoid being on the electoral register - to avoid jury duty, or to lower their profile with the authorities for whatever reason. These people deny themselves right to take part in the decisions that affect their lives, and the idea that many more people will unintentionally be shut out weakens our democracy, and excludes diverse voices from the fora that decide our nation's future.

Many thanks!