ASIANS MUST VOTE ON MAY 1ST
(17 April 2003)

Karamjit Singh, Electoral Commissioner today urged the UK's Asian Communities to vote in the Local Elections to be held on May 1st 2003. 'We are working to encourage more people from black and ethnic communities to vote on 1 May. But, it is clear from our research that politicians also need to do more to address the issues affecting black and Asian people in Britain if turnout is to improve," he said.

Black and ethnic communities are least likely to vote in the forthcoming May local elections, despite sharing the same concerns about healthcare, education, crime and housing as the rest of the population. According to a survey for The Electoral Commission, nearly one in three black people say they didn't vote in the last general election compared to one in ten Asians and only one in five white Britons. 14% of the black and ethnic community weren't even registered to vote, compared to 5% of white people.

Reasons for not voting stem mainly from feeling alienated from the political process. Over one in five adults in ethnic communities believe their vote would not make a difference, whilst around a third of black people say none of the parties stand for policies that benefit them. Worryingly, 15% of the black community claim that nothing could make them vote.

The renewed call to vote follows unexpected victories by The British National Party when it won three seats in Burnley last year and also picked up seats in Blackburn and Calderdale in by-elections earlier this year. The BNP has announced that it is to field 221 candidates in these local elections, many in areas with a high Asian population. Critics fear that this could lead to divided communities and civil unrest.

ABOUT THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION

The Electoral Commission is an independent body established by Parliament. It aims to ensure public confidence and participation in the democratic process within the United Kingdom through modernisation of the electoral process, promotion of public awareness of electoral matters and regulation of political parties.

INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE?

Click here to read 'BNP Victory due to frenzy over asylum'.
Click here to read 'BNP win fifth Council Seat'.
Click here to read 'British Asian Racists - an Unholy Alliance'.

Click here to visit the Electoral Commission website.