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The latest news and commentary from the Electoral Reform Society. You can also browse our articles by section in the article archive.

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Why are Ministers celebrating citizens losing their right to vote?

In a comment piece for The Times this week, Chloe Smith, Minister for the Constitution, made some bold claims about the government’s voter ID trials, which took place in five areas last month. She said the...

Posted 08 Jun 2018

Voters want to tackle Britain’s real democratic problems – not impose voter ID

Despite the fact that last month’s Voter ID trials disenfranchised (at least) hundreds of people, the government seems to be set on making it national policy. Why? Ostensibly, the government says it is about tackling...

Posted 06 Jun 2018

If you didn’t already think the voter ID trial was a mess, you will after reading this

The government’s rationale for its ill-considered Voter ID pilots was to tackle “electoral fraud” – a criminal offence of which allegations are rightly investigated by the police. So it doesn’t look good for the government...

Posted 08 May 2018

Revealed: How mandatory voter ID risks locking out legitimate voters

Representative democracies rely on people being able to participate in free and fair elections. That is why each time an election comes around the Electoral Reform Society and likeminded campaigners encourage as many people as...

Posted 30 Apr 2018

Why Voter ID is a solution seeking a problem

The government will be trialling making ID mandatory at polling stations this May. Voters in Bromley, Woking and Gosport will have to show officials their papers before being permitted to exercise their right to vote....

Posted 19 Mar 2018

Why the government’s mandatory voter ID plans are a terrible idea

The Electoral Commission has launched a new campaign against electoral fraud – a laudable effort to limit this type of crime. But it also brings under the spotlight the upcoming trials of mandatory voter ID...

Posted 06 Mar 2018

Wales tears down barriers to democracy as England fortifies them

Last week Wales has shown just what devolution can do: allow new ways of doing democracy. On Tuesday the Welsh government launched a consultation that has the potential to be a game-changer when it comes...

Posted 27 Jul 2017

Compulsory voter ID would only add to Britain’s democratic deficit

In true festive spirit, the government chose December 27 to respond to former local government minister Eric Pickles’ proposals to tackle alleged voter fraud in UK elections. Sadly, the response isn’t much of a belated Christmas present...

Posted 04 Jan 2017

Voter fraud: the nut and the sledgehammer

Last week, the Former Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Eric Pickles, published his report into tackling electoral fraud in the UK. While we should of course take all instances of voter fraud very seriously,...

Posted 15 Aug 2016