Protections required if electoral roll inclusion becomes compulsory

THERE has been recent coverage regarding the problems Guernsey residents have been experiencing in respect of getting credit facilities (including credit cards).

This has been a problem across the Channel Islands for many years and we welcome the commitment by government to review the matter. We do, however, need to be careful when referring to ‘compulsory’ data collection in this context.

As the law here stands, the electoral roll is publicly available. If individuals are compulsorily required to submit their details for inclusion, appropriate protections must be put in place. The principle being that if you want to keep your personal details private, that should not preclude you from voting.

The issues have been dealt with in the UK by the provision of two electoral registers – the ‘full version’ and the ‘open register’. This allows individuals some control over what information about them is publicly accessible. It also provides for the registers to be checked, within an appropriate statutory framework, for credit purposes.

There is not a quick solution to this problem as it will necessarily involve new legislation or changes to existing legislation. Wherever the state requires its citizens to hand over personal data of any kind by law (i.e. there may be sanctions for failing to do so), those citizens have a right to expect the state to ensure that the highest standards of controls and protections are in place.

Emma Martins

Data Protection Commissioner

c/o Office of the Data Protection Authority

St Martin’s House

Le Bordage

St Peter Port

GY1 1BR