Second home voters

Some listeners to Laurence Reed's programme have emailed to disagree with my explanation of the rules relating to voters who register at their "second" home address in Cornwall.

The most important point is that it's an offence to try to vote more than once in any particular election - risking a £5,000 fine.

The second most important point is:

"It is for the local Electoral Registration Officer to decide in the light of an individual voter's circumstances whether they may be said to be resident at an address, and therefore eligible for registration. Electoral Registration Officers are required to consider each case on its own merits."

I'm aware of considerable anecdotal evidence that some second-home owners, whose primary residence is in a "safe" constituency, are actually encouraged by their political parties to register in marginal seats where their votes will make most difference.

The authority on this is the Electoral Commission. Here's another quote from the rules:

"Being resident does not, however, require actual occupation..."

The law is clear about the number of votes a person can have (one) - but less clear about where that vote can be cast.