Recommendations & Conclusions
12 items
6
Conclusion
2nd Report – Review of the 2024 general…
Acknowledged
The decline in turnout is not an indictment of any one government or party. While it may be uncomfortable for those directly involved in politics and government, the decline in voting risks undermining the authority and legitimacy of government in the UK. Reversing the decline in turnout is a task …
Government response. The government commits to encouraging full participation and addresses specific suggestions for overseas electors by raising significant concerns about their feasibility or viability (such as embassy voting or telephone-based assisted voting). It states some potential recommendations remain under active consideration.
12
Conclusion
2nd Report – Review of the 2024 general…
Acknowledged
We recognise that the Government has manifesto commitments in the area of electoral law that it is prioritising. We commend the Government for recognising these challenges and including this work alongside the implementation of their other manifesto commitments. (Conclusion, Paragraph 45)
Government response. The government acknowledges the committee's recognition of its manifesto commitments, reiterating its focus on these electoral improvements and explaining why comprehensive electoral law consolidation is not currently prioritized due to its extensive nature and other pressing agenda items.
15
Conclusion
2nd Report – Review of the 2024 general…
Acknowledged
We are aware of a range of concerns regarding the pressures placed on electoral administrators. In particular, we note the anxieties raised around recruiting and retaining staff, and securing suitable locations for polling stations and counts. We are also aware of concerns around implementation of new measures and technologies, as …
Government response. The government acknowledges committee concerns about electoral administration pressures, stating that planning and contingency are responsibilities of independent Returning Officers and the Electoral Commission. It highlights ongoing support for local authorities and outlines intentions from its Strategy for Elections to …
31
Recommendation
2nd Report – Review of the 2024 general…
Acknowledged
The Government should improve the information on postal voting given to voters before and after any application they make. The establishment of a single electoral register and good use of public data should allow for more localised and targeted messaging to be provided. (Recommendation, Paragraph 103)
Government response. The government acknowledges the need to improve voter registration and data use, outlining plans for a Strategy for Elections and automated registration, but notes the technical and contractual complications of establishing a single electoral register.
42
Conclusion
2nd Report – Review of the 2024 general…
Acknowledged
The current system for overseas voting cannot guarantee that eligible voters will be given the opportunity to have their vote counted. We take the Government at its word that it is unacceptable that an eligible voter is prevented from having their vote counted. (Conclusion, Paragraph 119)
Government response. The government acknowledges its commitment to full participation and improving postal voting resilience for overseas electors. It notes the committee's concern about the current system's reliability and current voting options, but highlights challenges with alternative methods like embassy or telephone …
43
Conclusion
2nd Report – Review of the 2024 general…
Acknowledged
A system capable of reliably allowing eligible voters to cast their ballot must be in place in time for the next general election. (Recommendation, Paragraph 119)
Government response. The government commits to encouraging full participation and building more resilience into the postal voting system to benefit overseas voters. However, it does not provide a specific commitment or plan for a reliably capable system to be in place for …
47
Conclusion
2nd Report – Review of the 2024 general…
Acknowledged
We are concerned at the paucity of data available on overseas voters, and how many of them were successfully able to vote. (Conclusion, Paragraph 122)
Government response. The government states its commitment to encouraging full participation for overseas voters and mentions that systems for them were considered in a recent review. It notes the Committee's recommendations on mechanisms but does not commit to collecting more data on …
48
Conclusion
2nd Report – Review of the 2024 general…
Acknowledged
As part of the reform to the electoral register, an overseas electoral register should be created and information about what country people are living in and data on whether they were successfully able to vote should be generated. In particular, the number of postal votes sent out and returned, including …
Government response. The government reiterates its commitment to overseas voters and notes that overseas elector systems were reviewed. It acknowledges the Committee's recommendations on considering mechanisms, but does not commit to creating a separate overseas electoral register or collecting the specific data …
49
Conclusion
2nd Report – Review of the 2024 general…
Acknowledged
The changes to accessible voting in the Election Act 2022 have had a positive response, but the fact that a significant number still feel unable to vote independently and in secret is a concern. We agree that more can be done. (Conclusion, Paragraph 129)
Government response. The government highlights its Accessibility of Elections Working Group and states it is keen to investigate and further consider ways to use existing government data to improve accessibility.
61
Conclusion
2nd Report – Review of the 2024 general…
Acknowledged
The recent development and growth of AI brings with it both potential benefits and concerns. It is an area where regulation may also find it difficult to keep pace. Any legislative framework to regulate AI must be agile but allow effective scrutiny of new regulations that proceed from that framework. …
Government response. The government repeated the committee's conclusion verbatim.
67
Conclusion
2nd Report – Review of the 2024 general…
Acknowledged
We are pleased that a Speaker’s Conference has been established to examine these issues in detail and to recommend steps that can be taken to counteract this. We will not be making specific recommendations on measures that could be taken but we offer our evidence and support to the Speaker’s …
Government response. The government values the work of the Speaker's Conference, stating it will carefully consider its recommendations and continue to engage with them.
69
Conclusion
2nd Report – Review of the 2024 general…
Acknowledged
A further significant issue that arose during the course of our inquiry was that of political donations, and in particular of overseas donations to political parties. We will keep this issue under review and may return to it later in the Parliament. (Conclusion, Paragraph 176) 75
Government response. The government acknowledges the committee's interest in political and overseas donations, stating its commitment to strengthening democracy against foreign interference through tougher donation rules and improved transparency.