Shelter has launched a new initiative, in partnership with the Scottish Electoral Commission, to encourage homeless people to put themselves on the electoral roll.
Those who wish to vote in the up-coming local elections can either declare a local connection, telling the nearest office where they spend the majority of their time, or register a hostel or other temporary accommodation address.
Research carried out by the commission has shown that only 56% of people living in rented accommodation were registered to vote in April 2011, compared to 88% of home owners.
In addition, an FOI request released on February 28th this year showed that only 34 people in the whole of Scotland had chosen to register via ‘a declaration of local connection’, as of December 2011.
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