Friday, 1 November 2019
The electrical commission
Law in Action
Electoral Commission:
- An election is a formal decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to
hold o ce by voting
Who can vote?
- 16 years or older, A British citizen, An Irish, Commonwealth or European citizen who is resident in
the UK, Voting isn’t compulsory
Types of Election:
- UK Parliament, Scottish Parliament, National Assembly of Wales, NI Assembly, Local Elections,
Police and Crime Commissioners Elections
Con dence in the elections:
- Among issues which impacted on people’s con dence in the elections, most notable and
regrettable were the issues experiences by some citizens of other EU member states living in the
UK who wanted to votes in the European Parliament elections in the UK
- Similar di culties were highlighted after the 2014 EP Elections. Recommendations for change
were made. It’s unacceptable that people eligible to vote should be frustrated from doing so, and
it is deeply regrettable that this was not acted on and resolved by the UK govt
- Any changes to the process would’ve required the govt to introduce legislation, but the law wasn’t
changed ahead of the 2019 election
- The di culties were also exacerbated by government not con rming the position on these
elections proceeding until very late in the lead up to May 2019.
- This meant that Electoral Registration O cers (EROs) had not sent declaration forms to EU
citizens in the months before the election, as would usually have been the case.
- Overseas electors also contacted the electoral board during and after the European Parliamentary
elections to express concern that they had been unable to return postal votes in time to be
counted.
Electoral laws need to be updated:
- The 2019 elections illustrate that electoral law is increasingly complex and outdated, and presents
real risks for voters, candidates and campaigners, and electoral administrators
- Modernising of the UK’s electoral registers are the basis win which people may vote in elections
and referendums - they’re the practical expression of the franchise and therefore fundamental to
1
fi ffi ffi ffi fi fi
The electrical commission
Law in Action
Electoral Commission:
- An election is a formal decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to
hold o ce by voting
Who can vote?
- 16 years or older, A British citizen, An Irish, Commonwealth or European citizen who is resident in
the UK, Voting isn’t compulsory
Types of Election:
- UK Parliament, Scottish Parliament, National Assembly of Wales, NI Assembly, Local Elections,
Police and Crime Commissioners Elections
Con dence in the elections:
- Among issues which impacted on people’s con dence in the elections, most notable and
regrettable were the issues experiences by some citizens of other EU member states living in the
UK who wanted to votes in the European Parliament elections in the UK
- Similar di culties were highlighted after the 2014 EP Elections. Recommendations for change
were made. It’s unacceptable that people eligible to vote should be frustrated from doing so, and
it is deeply regrettable that this was not acted on and resolved by the UK govt
- Any changes to the process would’ve required the govt to introduce legislation, but the law wasn’t
changed ahead of the 2019 election
- The di culties were also exacerbated by government not con rming the position on these
elections proceeding until very late in the lead up to May 2019.
- This meant that Electoral Registration O cers (EROs) had not sent declaration forms to EU
citizens in the months before the election, as would usually have been the case.
- Overseas electors also contacted the electoral board during and after the European Parliamentary
elections to express concern that they had been unable to return postal votes in time to be
counted.
Electoral laws need to be updated:
- The 2019 elections illustrate that electoral law is increasingly complex and outdated, and presents
real risks for voters, candidates and campaigners, and electoral administrators
- Modernising of the UK’s electoral registers are the basis win which people may vote in elections
and referendums - they’re the practical expression of the franchise and therefore fundamental to
1
fi ffi ffi ffi fi fi
