UK Government faces calls to extend EU referendum registration deadline after website crash

The UK Government is facing growing calls to extend the voter registration deadline for the EU referendum, after the registration website crashed and left thousands of people ineligible to take part.

The Government said technical problems on the registration website, which saw it crash in the final moments before the deadline closed at midnight yesterday, were caused by “unprecedented demand” on the system.

The crash has led to calls from Labour, the SNP, the Scottish Greens and the Lib Dems for the deadline to be extended.

RELATED CONTENT

Proposed Scottish parliament committee membership

Q&A with Scotland's female political leaders

The BBC reported a government source saying they are exploring ways it would be "practical and legal" to extend the deadline after the midnight cut off.

Jeremy Corbyn expressed his concern on twitter.

Scottish Green Party co-convener Maggie Chapman said: “No one should lose their right to vote simply because a website crashed”.

Meanwhile SNP MP Tommy Sheppard put forward an urgent question to Parliament on the subject today.

He said: “The government must extend the deadline for voter registration for the EU referendum – nobody should be denied their opportunity to vote.

“The time for incrimination – and to ensure this never happens again- will come later. The urgent priority is to extend the deadline and ensure that everyone has the chance to exercise their democratic right.”

Around half a million applications to register were made yesterday alone.

A Cabinet Office spokesman said: "We became aware of technical issues [on the registration website] late on Tuesday night due to unprecedented demand.

"Some people did manage to get through and their applications were processed. We tried to resolve the situation as quickly as was possible and to resolve cases where people tried to register but were not able to."

Chapman said: “No one should lose their right to vote simply because a website crashed. With half a million people registering on the final day, it’s clear that there is a growing appetite to be part of the debate and to help build a better Europe.

“Despite a referendum campaign that has been dominated by two sides of the same right wing, anti-immigrant, scaremongering agenda, more and more people are realising that this is a crucial vote that will affect the whole continent.

“I urge the UK Government to work with the Electoral Commission and others to extend the voter registration deadline and ensure that everyone has a chance to vote and to have their voice heard.”