Recommendations & Conclusions
9 items
1
Conclusion
2nd Report – Review of the 2024 general…
Deferred
We agree that the 2024 general election was well run. This was due to the hard work, dedication, and often the personal sacrifice of the people running it. The electoral administrators, the civil servants and the Electoral Commission worked hard to deliver the election and, as shown later in the …
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We agree that the 2024 general election was well run. This was due to the hard work, dedication, and often the personal sacrifice of the people running it. The electoral administrators, the civil servants and the Electoral Commission worked hard to deliver the election and, as shown later in the report, to ensure that changes to electoral law, new systems and new guidance were implemented in full. We extend our thanks to those involved in running the election. (Conclusion, Paragraph 13)
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Government response AI summary
The government agrees on the importance of clear assessments but deflects responsibility for establishing criteria for assessing election effectiveness to the Electoral Commission, stating it will consider proposals from them. It also vaguely commits to exploring ways to improve democratic engagement.
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3
Conclusion
2nd Report – Review of the 2024 general…
Deferred
While the Electoral Commission have rightly reported that each general election on which they have reported was well run, there have also been repeated concerns raised. While we do not doubt the Electoral Commission’s overall assessment of this or previous elections, we do note that there could be improvements to …
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While the Electoral Commission have rightly reported that each general election on which they have reported was well run, there have also been repeated concerns raised. While we do not doubt the Electoral Commission’s overall assessment of this or previous elections, we do note that there could be improvements to make the assessment criteria more rigorous and measurable, allowing for better comparability between elections. This includes where stresses are being felt and increasing, and where the existing system needs to be adapted to the way people are living their lives. It is good that the public opinion survey shows a high level of trust in the election but, by itself, this should not be taken as a measure of how well run an election is. It is vital that there are more objective measures that can be pointed to. (Conclusion, Paragraph 15)
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Government response AI summary
The government rejects producing an annual readiness report, stating that planning and contingency for elections are the responsibility of independent Returning Officers and the Electoral Commission. It commits to introducing legislation to ensure senior officials hold the Returning Officer role and to continue working with …
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4
Recommendation
2nd Report – Review of the 2024 general…
Deferred
There need to be clear criteria and, where appropriate, metrics, for assessing and judging how effectively an election has been run. The Electoral Commission should establish such criteria in consultation with Government and other stakeholders. This should be in place in 64 advance of the next general election, and reports …
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There need to be clear criteria and, where appropriate, metrics, for assessing and judging how effectively an election has been run. The Electoral Commission should establish such criteria in consultation with Government and other stakeholders. This should be in place in 64 advance of the next general election, and reports should be made to this Committee regularly on progress towards establishing the criteria, and afterwards on monitoring the criteria. As part of this, there needs to be a clear understanding of what election failure looks like. (Recommendation, Paragraph 16) Turnout
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Government response AI summary
The government deflects the core recommendation on establishing clear criteria for assessing election effectiveness, instead stating that the process of conducting counts is a matter for independent Returning Officers. It then shifts to discussing its plans for improving voter registration and reducing the burden of …
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7
Conclusion
2nd Report – Review of the 2024 general…
Deferred
We welcome consideration of political education as part of the Department for Education curriculum review. But what is needed is a complete overhaul of political education in the UK, particularly within England. The Government has committed in its manifesto to introduce votes at 16. That would provide an opportunity for …
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We welcome consideration of political education as part of the Department for Education curriculum review. But what is needed is a complete overhaul of political education in the UK, particularly within England. The Government has committed in its manifesto to introduce votes at 16. That would provide an opportunity for a new approach to be considered. However, regardless of whether this change is delivered, a new approach should be undertaken as a matter of urgency so that it is in place ahead of the next general election. (Recommendation, Paragraph 35)
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Government response AI summary
The government deflects this recommendation on political education by discussing its commitment to ensuring accessible voting for disabled electors and improving awareness of available support, and also briefly mentioning exploring the use of existing data. It does not address political education.
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8
Conclusion
2nd Report – Review of the 2024 general…
Deferred
The development of a new school curriculum for political education is an opportunity to engage the public in order to create the wider environment and culture for political education in schools to be successful. (Recommendation, Paragraph 36)
Government response AI summary
The government deflects this recommendation on political education by focusing on its commitments and ongoing work related to Voter Identification policy, including monitoring its impact and exploring digital ID. It does not address political education.
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9
Conclusion
2nd Report – Review of the 2024 general…
Deferred
We note the message about the importance of politicians engaging with young people in schools, and we support continued efforts to enable MPs and Parliament more widely in this work. (Recommendation, Paragraph 37) State of electoral law and systems for electoral administration
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We note the message about the importance of politicians engaging with young people in schools, and we support continued efforts to enable MPs and Parliament more widely in this work. (Recommendation, Paragraph 37) State of electoral law and systems for electoral administration
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Government response AI summary
The government deflects this recommendation on politician engagement with young people in schools by detailing its commitment of £31 million to improve security for MPs and elected officials, address online harms, and protect democracy from intimidation and harassment.
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22
Conclusion
2nd Report – Review of the 2024 general…
Deferred
Given this we hope that the Electoral Commission and others may be able to learn lessons from the July General Election and produce guidance and plans so that some of the difficulties experienced at this election might be mitigated against or at least better prepared for going forward, should another …
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Given this we hope that the Electoral Commission and others may be able to learn lessons from the July General Election and produce guidance and plans so that some of the difficulties experienced at this election might be mitigated against or at least better prepared for going forward, should another awkwardly timed General Election be called. (Recommendation, Paragraph 73)
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Government response AI summary
The government redirected the committee's hope for the Electoral Commission to learn lessons from the July General Election and produce guidance, by stating that the Electoral Commission is responsible for providing such guidance and support.
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24
Conclusion
2nd Report – Review of the 2024 general…
Deferred
While we are pleased that the administrative errors made at elections in 2024 did not bring into doubt the election results, such mistakes do threaten to diminish trust in our electoral system. We are concerned that there is no 67 uniform process prescribed for actually counting the votes at an …
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While we are pleased that the administrative errors made at elections in 2024 did not bring into doubt the election results, such mistakes do threaten to diminish trust in our electoral system. We are concerned that there is no 67 uniform process prescribed for actually counting the votes at an election. Candidates standing in a UK general election should be confident that, as far as is reasonably practicable, votes are counted and checked in the same way in every constituency. (Conclusion, Paragraph 88)
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Government response AI summary
The government redirected the concern about the lack of a uniform vote counting process, stating that the count is a matter for statutorily independent Returning Officers, not the government, and highlighted the Electoral Commission's role in providing guidance.
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36
Conclusion
2nd Report – Review of the 2024 general…
Deferred
We are concerned that the number of print suppliers is decreasing, which increases the possibility that the printing of ballot packs could be a point of failure. Arrangements should be put in place to ensure that the printing of ballot packs is prioritised, for example by requiring priority clauses in …
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We are concerned that the number of print suppliers is decreasing, which increases the possibility that the printing of ballot packs could be a point of failure. Arrangements should be put in place to ensure that the printing of ballot packs is prioritised, for example by requiring priority clauses in the contracts and that a backup is in place so that delays of more than one day 69 cannot occur. Where delays do occur, a system should be put in place to notify the public. For example, a local authority could be required to notify the Electoral Commission, so they can provide a central point for people to find out about delays, and what options there are to ensure they can vote. (Conclusion, Paragraph 107)
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Government response AI summary
The government notes the recommendation for a resilience plan for supplier failure but states that ensuring supply contracts and contingencies is a matter for statutorily independent Returning Officers. It also mentions future legislative changes will support electors and administrators, including the ability to use different …
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