Government confirms plans for ‘Elections Bill’ – including making it harder to vote Among an eclectic mix of changes, the bill will contain provisions to impose mandatory voter ID for Westminster elections and all elections in England. Posted 18 Jun 2021
Joint Committee on Human Rights investigates voter ID plans The ERS’ Dr Jess Garland gave evidence to Parliament’s Joint Committee on Human Rights on Wednesday 26 May, on the government’s mandatory voter ID plans announced in the Queen’s Speech. Watch it in full here.... Posted 01 Jun 2021
The government’s own research shows millions of people may lack appropriate voter ID This week’s Queen’s Speech confirmed that the government would be pushing ahead with the Electoral Integrity Bill. As we’ve outlined before, the bill would require voters to present photo identification at the polling station in... Posted 14 May 2021
Voter ID: 18 leading civil society groups unite to call for dangerous plans to be dropped Leading UK civil society groups have united to challenge plans to block those without ID from voting, in a landmark joint statement co-ordinated by the ERS. Posted 14 May 2021
Queen’s Speech: Senior Conservative brands mandatory voter ID ‘illiberal solution for non-existent problem’ The government is planning to introduce legislation that will make it harder for millions of ordinary people to vote. Posted 10 May 2021
ERS in the Press: March 2021 The warping effects of First Past the Post were in the news again this month, with the Times’ Patrick Maguire penning a piece on the ‘one-party fiefdoms’ that plague our politics. Darren Hughes, responded with... Posted 15 Apr 2021
Why voter ID is the opposite of what we need to improve our elections That there is growing opposition to government plans to introduce mandatory voter ID should come as no surprise. Requirements to show photo ID at polling stations, which are expected to be introduced in 2023, are... Posted 12 Mar 2021
UK government’s mandatory voter ID plans slammed by US civil rights groups Leading US civil rights groups have sounded the alarm over UK government plans to exclude those who lack ID from the polling station. Posted 04 Mar 2021
How government voter ID plans are an expensive and dangerous distraction At a cost of up to £20m per election, this is a colossal waste of energy and resources at a time when we should be focusing on the UK’s recovery. Posted 18 Feb 2021
7 democratic developments to watch out for this year What does democracy look like in a pandemic? It’s a question that came up a lot last year – and 2021 seems no different. This year could see some major developments when it comes to... Posted 18 Jan 2021