Government to review current system for electoral registration and conduct
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Democracy and Local Growth, Alex Norris, has announced that the Government will look to identify and address the “biggest challenges and pain-points” in the current system for electoral registration and conduct.
In a letter to the electoral sector, Norris acknowledged the “consistent message” from Returning Officers, Electoral Registration Officers and their teams that electoral law is “outdated”, “difficult to work with” and in many ways “not fit for purpose”.
He wrote: “We are conscious that, while elections continue to be delivered effectively, that delivery is not without risk and comes at a personal and professional cost to elections teams. We understand that, in order to most effectively make changes to improve participation, first we must make sure the foundations upon which our elections are based are solid.
“The Government therefore will, alongside the work to deliver manifesto commitments, look to identify and address the biggest challenges and pain-points in the current system for electoral registration and conduct. By prioritising the biggest issues, we will be able to get the system onto a secure footing once more.”
On Voter ID reform, Norris outlined his commitment to ensure that “all legitimate voters have the ability to vote in our elections”.
He noted that the Government has now laid the statutory instrument required to add the HM Armed Forces Veteran Card to the list of photographic identifications accepted in polling stations as voter ID.
He reiterated the Government’s plans to give 16- and 17-year-olds the right to vote in all UK elections, noting: “We will work closely with a wide range of stakeholders to ensure we have a complete understanding of how best to achieve this goal, and the experience of our colleagues in Scotland and Wales, where 16- and 17-year-olds already have the right to vote in devolved elections, will be invaluable as we develop the necessary policy and processes.”
He stated that the Government is not expecting to introduce the legislation required to make the change “immediately”, but that it does intend to have it in place to allow 16- and 17-year-olds to vote in the next UK Parliamentary General Election.
Lottie Winson
