News and Comment

The latest news and commentary from the Electoral Reform Society.

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How do you register to vote and when do you have to do it by?

Whilst registration statistics have gone dramatically up since the date for the next general election became official, arguably the level of first-time registration may be being overstated. The statistics we are given tell us the...

Posted 13 Nov 2019

To vote you must be registered by the 26th of November

Three issues that need tackling this General Election

Let’s use this election as a chance to re-build democracy on stronger and fairer foundations As the UK prepares for its next general election in December, it is important to revise what needs to be...

Posted 05 Nov 2019

Most voters end up being represented by an MP they didn’t vote for

ERS is the Press: May 2019

In a month that began and ended with elections for local councils and the European Parliament – both of which showed the changing nature of British politics and the continued decline of the two main...

Posted 05 Jun 2019

Darren Hughes on Sky News

ERS in the Press – April 2019

As we geared up for a big round of local elections in England and Northern Ireland, we’ve been putting reform of Britain’s out-dated politics firmly on the agenda. Fair votes now As the Brexit process...

Posted 01 May 2019

Newspapers

Inside the backbench burial ground of Private Members’ Bills

Most of the legislation that Parliament passes is introduced and backed by the government. But for thirteen Fridays in each parliamentary session, backbenchers steer the agenda. For those days, Private Members’ Bills have precedence over...

Posted 31 Oct 2018

Spooky Commons

Doubts over turnout figures could have serious implications

Turnout is a vital measure for understanding our relationship with politics, whether it be low or high. If  people do not vote, it tells us they are being failed by politics.  If people do vote in large numbers, then it can be argued the Government which emerges after an...

Posted 19 Jan 2018

Closing the registration generation gap

Young voters are in the spotlight this election. Significant gaps in current polling have been explained by differences in how pollsters are measuring youth turnout. Younger electors are also behind the surge in electoral registration....

Posted 06 Jun 2017

Motor Voters