News and Comment

The latest news and commentary from the Electoral Reform Society.

Around the World | Current Affairs Commentary | Developments at the ERS | Your Questions Answered | Case Studies

View by category

View by date

Scottish Government refuses to recommend consent for Elections Bill

The Scottish government is standing up to Westminster on legislation that would see voter ID imposed on UK elections held in Scotland. Deputy First Minister John Swinney lodged a ‘legislation consent memorandum’ in the Scottish...

Posted 01 Oct 2021

The Holyrood Government is right to oppose it and should hold firm

How can we better regulate our elections?

Earlier this month, buried amidst the many reactions to the government’s Elections Bill, the Committee on Standards in Public Life (CSPL) published its report on regulating election finance, following a year-long inquiry to which we...

Posted 20 Jul 2021

If the government really wants to improve the integrity of our elections, they should consider the findings of the CSPL

These government plans represent a takeover of our independent election watchdog

Ministers have announced plans that gut the UK’s independent Electoral Commission, representing a power grab over election scrutiny.

Posted 18 Jun 2021

The government is extending political influence over what should be a neutral body

An independent Electoral Commission for Ireland – A step forward for democracy

While in the UK the government has recently threatened our independent elections watchdog with abolition if it cannot be ‘radically overhauled’, across the sea, the Irish government has recently set out plans for establishing an...

Posted 12 Jan 2021

There’s much the UK could adopt from the recent Irish proposals

MPs in joint call to ‘protect and strengthen’ the Electoral Commission, 20 years after its foundation

This week marks 20 years since the Electoral Commission was founded. It’s a time for celebration of its successes but also a time to look to its future. That’s why former Digital, Culture, Media and...

Posted 04 Dec 2020

The Electoral Commission has become an analogue regulator in a digital age

Happy birthday to the Electoral Commission – now let’s give it the powers it needs

This Monday marks 20 years since the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 received Royal Assent. It was an act which set up the Electoral Commission, the UK’s independent elections watchdog – and tackled...

Posted 30 Nov 2020

20 years since the Electoral Commission was founded, our watchdog needs more clout

Monday 30th November marks the 20th Anniversary of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act. In 2000, just 30% of people had internet access at home. Facebook was years from conception. Today, campaigners spend millions each election...

Posted 25 Nov 2020

voters deserve to know who’s targeting them online.

Our elections watchdog needs strengthening, not scrapping

You’d think given the rising tide of disinformation, dodgy donations and dark ads online, the government might be getting serious about empowering our elections watchdog. Instead, the Conservative Party has actually issued a call to...

Posted 03 Sep 2020

Abolishing the Electoral Commission would be a dangerous backwards step

New inquiry launched into Britain’s ‘wild west’ electoral laws

Anyone with an interest in bringing campaign rules into the 21st century can make a submission.

Posted 08 Jun 2020

What does the Electoral Commission do?

The Electoral Commission is an independent body established in 2001. Its mandate is limited by what is set out in the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act (PPERA) 2000 and subsequent amendments. The Electoral Commission...

Posted 09 Dec 2019