Category Archives: Electoral Commission

Future proofing Scottish elections – The Scottish Government consultation on electoral reform

Posted on March 22, 2018 by The Electoral Commission

Over the last four years there have been five sets of Scotland-wide elections and two significant referendums, as well as countless by-elections. Now, with no scheduled polls in Scotland until 2021, we have a great opportunity to take stock and identify the challenges and opportunities in ensuring that our electoral structures remain fit for purpose in the 21st Century. Continue reading →

Celebrating the centenary of women’s suffrage

Posted on February 1, 2018 by The Electoral Commission

Ahead of celebrations to mark the centenary of the Representation of the People Act, passed on 6 February 1918, giving some women the right to vote in the UK for the first time, we’ve asked women at the Commission to share their thoughts on the anniversary. Continue reading →

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Helping to stop intimidation of Parliamentary candidates

Posted on December 15, 2017 by The Electoral Commission

On Wednesday the Committee for Standards in Public Life (CSPL) published its final report following a review of intimidation experienced by Parliamentary candidates at the general election in June 2017. Continue reading →

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Are the UK’s elections fit for purpose? We must avoid complacency to stop a perfect storm from forming

Posted on December 11, 2017 by The Electoral Commission

On Wednesday night, our Chair, Sir John Holmes, gave a speech to the Institute for Government on the state of the British electoral system. Continue reading →

Posted in Elections, Electoral Commission, Electoral Law, Electoral Registration, General, party funding, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

No barriers to voting – enabling the voices of those with learning disabilities

Posted on November 14, 2017 by The Electoral Commission

Last Thursday we published our report on accessibility, ‘Elections for everyone’. The feedback we received from disabled voters about their experiences at the UK Parliament elections made it clear that something needs to be done, and governments, electoral staff, candidates and parties, and the Commission all have a role to play in this. Continue reading →

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Elections for everyone

Posted on November 13, 2017 by The Electoral Commission

Registering to vote and voting should be a good experience for everyone. But it isn’t. Some people with a disability told us that they do not have the confidence to register to vote and cast their vote. Others said they have many obstacles to overcome so that they can cast their vote. Continue reading →

Posted in #yourvotematters, Elections, Electoral Commission, Electoral Registration, General, Register to Vote, voters, voting | Leave a comment

Responding to the rise of digital campaigning

Posted on October 31, 2017 by The Electoral Commission

Bob Posner, Electoral Commission Director of Political Finance and Regulation & Legal Counsel Effective campaigning is, and always has been, an important part of elections and over the last few years we have seen this move more and more into … Continue reading →