Source · Select Committees · Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
2nd Report – Review of the 2024 general election
Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
HC 487
Published 22 July 2025
Government response
2nd Special Report - Review of the 2024 general election: Government and the Electoral Commission responses · published 16 Oct 2025
Recommendations & Conclusions
1
Conclusion
Deferred
2024 general election deemed well-run due to dedicated electoral administration efforts
Conclusion
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 …
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Government Response 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.
3
Conclusion
Deferred
Current election assessment criteria lack rigor, requiring more objective measures
Conclusion
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 …
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Government Response 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 stakeholders to support election readiness.
4
Recommendation
Deferred
Establish clear, objective criteria and metrics for assessing future election effectiveness
Recommendation
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 …
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Government Response 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 duplicate applications.
7
Conclusion
Deferred
Overhaul political education in England urgently, ahead of the next general election
Conclusion
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 …
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Government Response 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.
8
Conclusion
Deferred
New political education curriculum provides opportunity to foster public engagement
Conclusion
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 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.
9
Conclusion
Deferred
Importance of politicians engaging with young people in schools recognised
Conclusion
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 …
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Government Response 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.
22
Conclusion
Deferred
Develop guidance and plans to mitigate difficulties from awkwardly timed general elections.
Conclusion
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 …
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Government Response 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.
24
Conclusion
Deferred
Lack of uniform vote counting process threatens trust in the electoral system.
Conclusion
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 …
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Government Response 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.
36
Conclusion
Deferred
Prioritise ballot pack printing with backup arrangements and public notification system for delays
Conclusion
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 …
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Government Response 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 voting mechanisms if issues arise.