Home > 1.1.2 Voters' registration and registers > Report on Electoral Law and Electoral Administration in Europe
 
 
 
Download file    
 
 
Paragraph 72
 

There are several methods of producing voting registers. In most CoE member states, voters lists are taken directly form national, regional and/or local population databases that are used for administrative purposes. This means that voter registration is passive, except for people residing abroad who must usually actively register (if they are allowed to vote). Among CoE member states, only in Cyprus, the Ireland and the United Kingdom are voters not included automatically on the registers, but at their own request (active voter registration). According to the Code of Good Practice in Electoral Matters, both methods are acceptable (Explanatory Report, I.1.2, par. 7).