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Select Committee · Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee

The Work of the Electoral Commission

Status: Closed Opened: 16 Jun 2021 Closed: 1 May 2023 14 recommendations 17 conclusions 1 report

The Electoral Commission is an independent body set up under statute to oversee elections, regulate political finance in the UK and who work to promote public confidence in the democratic process. The Committee’s predecessor recommended that it “should carry out an inquiry into the role and effectiveness of the Electoral Commission.” Read the call for … Show more

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Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Second Report - The Work of the Electoral Commission HC 462 20 Oct 2022 31 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

5 items
3 Conclusion Second Report - The Work of the Elector… Accepted

The Committee notes the high levels of satisfaction in the Electoral Commission’s role in guiding...

The Committee notes the high levels of satisfaction in the Electoral Commission’s role in guiding the practical administration of elections and delivering referendums. Nevertheless, we remain concerned by the challenges that lie ahead for the Electoral Commission in supporting electoral administrators, political parties, campaigners, and voters to understand and navigate … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government states that the Voter Identification Regulations have been affirmed by both Houses and are on track to be in force for mid-January and states that the electoral landscape will become more diverse as a result of many factors.
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4 Recommendation Second Report - The Work of the Elector… Accepted

We welcome the Government’s recent update that it is taking a staged approach to implementing...

We welcome the Government’s recent update that it is taking a staged approach to implementing the Elections Act 2022, which will support the electoral community in preparing to implement the necessary changes. While there is now limited time for the statutory instruments for voter ID to come into force and … Read more

Government response AI summary
The Government laid the draft Voter Identification Regulations before Parliament and affirmed them. The Political Finance and Notional Expenditure statutory instruments are now in force, with the Accessibility statutory instruments due to come into force on 29th December. Timeline and plan has been shared with …
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23 Conclusion Second Report - The Work of the Elector… Accepted

The introduction of digital imprints on paid-for and certain unpaid digital material is welcome, but,...

The introduction of digital imprints on paid-for and certain unpaid digital material is welcome, but, in their current form, the requirements have notable limitations. This includes a potentially wide scope of activity that will not require an imprint, as well as challenges envisaged by our witnesses in enforcing the regime … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government believes the digital imprint regime is ambitious, delivers transparency, and is proportionate and enforceable; further, it includes regulation-making powers for the Secretary of State to modify key definitions if needed.
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24 Recommendation Second Report - The Work of the Elector… Accepted

As recommended in our Fifth Report of Session 2021–22 on the Elections Bill, acknowledging the...

As recommended in our Fifth Report of Session 2021–22 on the Elections Bill, acknowledging the need for legislation to keep pace with rapid technological changes, the Government should commit to monitoring and conducting regular reviews of the digital imprints scheme, to ensure effectiveness in the monitoring and enforcement of the … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government states the digital imprint regime introduced in the Elections Act 2022 will be one of the most ambitious ones in the world. Further, as part of its reporting requirements, the Electoral Commission will monitor the enforcement of digital imprints, including reporting on convictions …
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25 Recommendation Second Report - The Work of the Elector… Accepted

We agree with the Electoral Commission that each of the four governments of the UK...

We agree with the Electoral Commission that each of the four governments of the UK should amend the rules for reporting spending to provide greater transparency on the money being spent on digital campaigns in their jurisdictions. There should be a separate category for digital campaigning to be included in … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government states that spending on digital campaigning at an election must already be reported and is covered by the current wording in the law, and provides an important level of transparency about campaign spending.
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Oral evidence sessions

7 sessions
Date Witnesses
7 Dec 2021 Bob Posner · The Electoral Commission, John Pullinger CB · Electoral Commission View ↗
20 Jul 2021 Chloe Hardy · Sheila McKechnie Foundation, Chris Weavers · NASUWT The Teachers' Union, Dave Timms · Friends of the Earth, Dr Jess Garland · Electoral Reform Society, Dr Rowan Popplewell · Bond, Peter Geoghegan · openDemocracy, The Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts CBE · House of Lords View ↗
29 Jun 2021 Alan Mabbutt · Conservative Party, Amy Killen · Women’s Equality Party, Andrew Whyte · Labour Party, Geraint Day · Plaid Cymru, Jon Nott · Green Party of England and Wales, Richard Tice · Reform UK, Scott Martin · Scottish National Party, The Rt Hon. the Lord Tyler · Liberal Democrats View ↗
25 May 2021 Alan Halsall · Vote Leave, Barry Ryan · Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage of the Republic of Ireland, Dr Alan Renwick · Constitution Unit, University College London, Paul Comer · Britain Stronger in Europe, Rt Hon Dominic Grieve QC, Scott Martin · Scottish National Party, The Rt Hon. the Baroness Stuart of Edgbaston View ↗
27 Apr 2021 Dr Holly Ann Garnett, Dr Theresa Reidy, Professor Pippa Norris View ↗
9 Mar 2021 Dr Alistair Clark, Dr Kate Dommett, Professor Toby James · University of East Anglia View ↗
2 Jul 2020 Ailsa Irvine · Electoral Commission, Bob Posner · The Electoral Commission, Louise Edwards · Electoral Commission View ↗

Who gave evidence

31 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Bob Posner · Chief Executive The Electoral Commission 2
Scott Martin · Solicitor Scottish National Party 2
Ailsa Irvine · Director of Electoral Administration and Guidance Electoral Commission 1
Alan Halsall · Former Responsible Person Vote Leave 1
Alan Mabbutt · Registered Treasurer and Legal Officer Conservative Party 1
Amy Killen · Campaigns Manager Women’s Equality Party 1
Andrew Whyte · Acting Director of Governance and Legal Labour Party 1
Barry Ryan · Principal Officer, Franchise Unit Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage of the Republic of Ireland 1
Chloe Hardy · Director of Policy and Communications Sheila McKechnie Foundation 1
Chris Weavers · National Official Campaigns, Policy and Communica… NASUWT The Teachers' Union 1
Dave Timms · Head of Political Affairs Friends of the Earth 1
Dr Alan Renwick · Deputy Director Constitution Unit, University College London 1
Dr Alistair Clark — 1
Dr Holly Ann Garnett — 1
Dr Jess Garland · Director of Policy and Research Electoral Reform Society 1
Dr Kate Dommett — 1
Dr Rowan Popplewell · Policy Manager, civic space Bond 1
Dr Theresa Reidy — 1
Geraint Day · Deputy Chief Executive and Head of Campaigns Plaid Cymru 1
John Pullinger CB · Chair Electoral Commission 1
Jon Nott · Treasurer Green Party of England and Wales 1
Louise Edwards · Director of Regulation Electoral Commission 1
Paul Comer · Former Compliance Director Britain Stronger in Europe 1
Peter Geoghegan · Investigations Editor openDemocracy 1
Professor Pippa Norris — 1
Professor Toby James · Professor of Politics and Public Policy University of East Anglia 1
Richard Tice · Leader Reform UK 1
Rt Hon Dominic Grieve QC — 1
The Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts CBE · Member House of Lords 1
The Rt Hon. the Baroness Stuart of Edgbaston — 1
The Rt Hon. the Lord Tyler · Spokesperson on Political & Constitutional Reform Liberal Democrats 1

Correspondence

5 letters
DateDirectionTitle
15 Nov 2022 From cttee Letter to Shaun McNally, CEO, Electoral Commission on the work to replace the E…
1 Nov 2022 To cttee Letter from Shaun McNally CBE, CEO The Electoral Commmission on the work to rep…
20 Oct 2022 To cttee Letter from Rt Hon Andrew Stephenson MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State…
2 Sep 2020 To cttee Letter from Bob Posner, Electoral Commission on follow-up evidence after 2.7.20…
21 Jul 2020 From cttee Letter to Bob Posner, Chief Executive, Electoral Commission on follow-up writte…