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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 …

Clear

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

2 items
6 Recommendation Second Report - The Work of the Elector… Deferred

The Electoral Commission must ensure it has the institutional knowledge and capacity to support those...

The Electoral Commission must ensure it has the institutional knowledge and capacity to support those it regulates equally in both election and referendum contexts, noting their distinct and unique characteristics. There should be comprehensive training for Electoral Commission staff to ensure its guidance and regulatory approach is tailored to each …

Government response. The government notes that this recommendation is addressed to the Electoral Commission.
14 Recommendation Second Report - The Work of the Elector… Deferred

The Government should commit to reviewing the impact of the lower tier of registration for...

The Government should commit to reviewing the impact of the lower tier of registration for third party campaigners as part of its statutory review of the Elections Act 2022, due in four to five years› time, to be published and laid before Parliament. Any future reform to the regulatory powers …

Government response. The government acknowledges the recommendation to review the lower tier of registration for third-party campaigners and consider reducing reporting timelines, but defers action. It states that the statutory duty for post-legislative scrutiny of the Elections Act 2022 already ensures the …

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 ↗

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…