What are the political donation rules in the UK? This week the Observer spoke to our director of research, Jess Garland, about the inadequate rules surrounding party funding in Britain. As Jess told them: “the concern is that if the current rules aren’t updated,... Posted 04 Dec 2024
2024 at the ERS: Our year campaigning for change Each year we write an Annual Report which looks back at our achievements across the last 12 months, and explains how our team have campaigned towards securing our vision for a democracy fit for the... Posted 03 Dec 2024
Does the parliamentary petition site make a difference? The parliamentary petition site is in the news at the moment, as nearly three million people have signed a petition asking for a new general election. The petition is set to be debated on the... Posted 02 Dec 2024
Unlike the UK, Ireland’s voting system can cope with changing voter preferences When Ireland goes to the polls for its general election, on Friday 29 November, it will mark over 100 years of elections using the Single Transferable Vote (STV) form of proportional representation for the Irish... Posted 28 Nov 2024
When was the voting age reduced from 21 to 18 in the UK? The UK is no stranger to expanding the franchise. The age you have to be to cast a vote in elections has changed many times – each time allowing even more people to participate in... Posted 27 Nov 2024
Over 100 MPs join new parliamentary group supporting electoral reform for Westminster Today sees the launch of a new parliamentary group on electoral reform, which is upping the pressure on the government to take action on the UK’s failing electoral system. The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for... Posted 25 Nov 2024
Could Trump lose the popular vote for the third time but secure a second term as President? Before the last US Presidential election, in 2020, we asked whether it was possible for Donald Trump to again lose the popular vote but win the Presidency, as he had done in 2016. Although this... Posted 05 Nov 2024
The Commons versus the Lords: What’s the difference? Our parliament is made up of the House of Commons and the House of Lords, but do we really need two chambers? It can be tempting to see it as pointless duplication, but the colour... Posted 04 Nov 2024
Majority of councillors vote for STV in Gwynedd, but vote fails to reach high threshold by one vote There was a disappointing outcome in Gwynedd this afternoon as we just fell short in winning the council’s vote on changing the voting system to the Single Transferable Vote (STV) by a single vote. The... Posted 24 Oct 2024
Positive statements on restoring the electoral system for Mayors and PCCs There have been positive noises from government ministers on repairing one part of the damage done to our democracy by the previous government. At the Local Government Association conference this week, government minister Jim McMahon... Posted 24 Oct 2024