Elections


May elections to go ahead as council chiefs call for indemnity 21/01/2021 Local elections will go ahead on 6 May despite the ongoing pandemic, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has ruled.
Call for ‘urgent clarity’ on elections 06/01/2021 Speculation over whether local elections will take place in May as scheduled has been labelled ‘unhelpful’ by councils.
Proportional votes to come to Wales 19/11/2020 Proportional voting will be introduced to Welsh council elections for the first time as the franchise is extended to 16- and 17-year olds and foreigners.
Mayor anticipates Covid-19 election disruption 20/07/2020 London mayor Sadiq Khan has urged voters in the capital to register for postal ballots ahead of next year’s elections to avoid disruption from the COVID-19 crisis.
Voter ID plans will have a disproportionate impact on BME people, campaigners warn 23/06/2020 Mandatory voter ID plans could bring ‘US-style voter suppression to the UK’, anti-racist and BME organisations have warned today.
Campaigners call for voting age to be lowered to 16 across all of the UK 01/06/2020 The right to vote should be extended to include 16 and 17 year olds in England, campaigners have said today.
Victorian-era electoral laws to be made ‘fit for 21st century’ 17/03/2020 The law commissions of England, Wales and Scotland have announced a series of reforms intended to ‘simplify, clarify, and improve electoral law’.
Government postpones council elections 13/03/2020 Local government elections due to take place on 7 May have been postponed for a year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Electoral Commission calls for autumn polls 12/03/2020 May’s local elections should be postponed until the autumn, the Electoral Commission has said.
Young people and foreign citizens keen to get involved in Welsh politics, study shows 03/03/2020 Young people and foreign citizens are more interested in voting in local government elections in Wales than some already enfranchised adults, new research shows.
Reform ‘unrepresentative’ electoral system, campaigners say 13/12/2019 Voters have been 'disenfranchised on a mass scale’ by the First-Past-The-Post electoral system, campaigners say.
Council apologises after tweet prompts ‘voter suppression’ accusation 13/12/2019 A Scottish council has apologised for what it described as a ‘lack of clarity’ after it told voters they required ID to vote.
Devolution revolution expected after Johnson wins 13/12/2019 Local government was this morning expecting a devolution revolution after Prime Minister Boris Johnson secured a sweeping election win.
It’s party time 05/12/2019 Paul Marinko tries to help the sector navigate the web of policy commitments for local government on offer after 12 December.
Students urge Whitehall to lower voting age to 16 05/12/2019 Student representatives have called on the next UK Government to follow Wales and Scotland in lowering the voting age to 16.
Nearly 14 million people live in areas with ‘shoe-in seats’ say campaigners 02/12/2019 Nearly 200 seats have not changed party hands since World War II, campaigners have warned today.
Tories pledge to create ‘more homeowners’ 22/11/2019 The Conservative Party has pledged to help renters buy their home and to give first time buyers discounts.
Third of young people not registered to vote, commission warns 19/11/2019 Young people risk missing their chance to vote unless they register quickly, the Electoral Commission has warned.
Welsh teenagers set to get the vote in local government ‘overhaul’ 18/11/2019 A new law to give 16- and 17-year-olds in Wales the vote in local council elections has been unveiled by the Welsh government.
Cost of alternative polling stations to be funded by Whitehall 06/11/2019 Councils will be reimbursed for the cost of finding alternative polling stations in the upcoming General Election.
Getting creative to avoid voting problems 04/11/2019 The forthcoming general election comes at a busy time of year amid warnings of serious strains on the voting system. But the worries may be exaggerated, Mark Whitehead learned.
Campaigners welcome surge in young people registering to vote 01/11/2019 Election experts have called for action to register the ‘missing millions’ of voters, warning that the forthcoming general election was starting from a 'democratically dubious position'.
Queen's Speech 19: Voter ID requirement at elections to be rolled out 14/10/2019 The Queen’s Speech has set out the Government’s plans to require voters to show photographic ID at polling stations.
Plans for voter ID bill branded 'dangerous and undemocratic' 13/10/2019 Plans to introduce voter ID across the whole country have been branded ‘dangerous, misguided and undemocratic’ by the Electoral Reform Society (ERS).
We need to modernise and strengthen the electoral machinery 19/09/2019 There should be no doubt that an election is around the corner. When that does come, would electoral officials be ready? Professor Toby James explores.
'Cracks' starting to show in electoral system 16/09/2019 Election administrators have warned of ‘cracks’ beginning to show in the electoral system with the prospect of another poll on the horizon.
High Court overturns Highworth election result 09/09/2019 Swindon Borough Council has welcomed a High Court decision to overturn an election which saw the wrong candidate elected as a councillor.
Campaigners warn of ‘democracy deserts’ 22/08/2019 There were 17 councils where the party getting the most votes in May’s local elections did not get the most councillors, electoral reform campaigners say.
Campaigners call for reform of ‘broken’ electoral system 29/07/2019 Electoral reform campaigners have warned of a ‘crisis of legitimacy’ in local elections as research reveals the first-past-the-post system leads to widespread disproportionality.
Voter ID trials saw more than 700 'denied a vote' in local elections 22/07/2019 New figures show that 740 people were denied a vote in the latest local elections due to the government's voter ID trials.
Alliance calls for voting reforms to fix 'failing' system 03/07/2019 Political parties and civil society groups have signed the Good Systems Agreement calling for reforms to the UK's voting system.
Labour beats Brexit Party in Peterborough by-election 07/06/2019 Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn welcomed a 'great win' in the Peterborough by-election after scraping home in the face of a strong challenge by the Brexit Party.
Study sets out how best to empower electoral officials 06/06/2019 Organisations running elections do better when they tackle stress among their employees, according to academics.
EU citizens ‘denied’ vote in European elections 24/05/2019 European Union citizens living in the UK have complained of having their right to vote for an MEP ‘denied’.
To what extent is the environment shaping national politics? 15/05/2019 Erica Popplewell explores what the local election results can tell us about concerns for the countryside and environment.
Lack of elections in Northamptonshire: An attack on local democracy? 10/05/2019 With a suggestion that local government reorganisation in Northamptonshire may not take place now until 2021, why were there no local elections in the county last week? Mark Whitehead investigates.
Court rules voting provision for blind people is 'unlawful' 07/05/2019 The way in which blind or partially sighted people are able to vote has been declared ‘unlawful’ in a successful legal challenge.
Whitehall announces measures to safeguard elections against ‘intimidation’ 07/05/2019 The Government today announced a range of new measures designed to help safeguard elections in the UK against ‘intimidation, influence and disinformation’.
Conservatives struggle at the polls as Lib Dems gain 03/05/2019 The two main political parties have made big loses in the local elections, with the Liberal Democrats and independents looking like the real winners of the night.
Voter ID plans will impact ‘millions on the margins’ coalition argues 02/05/2019 Millions of people will be denied their right to vote if the Government presses ahead with its mandatory voter ID plans, according to a call by charities and campaign groups.
Council confirms disgraced MP’s removal 02/05/2019 A by-election is to be held in Peterborough after a recall petition to remove Fiona Onasanya MP secured nearly 20,000 signatures.
Council elections: Warning over lack of progress on female representation 02/05/2019 Only 34% of all candidates running in today’s local elections are women, new research has revealed today.
Security fears after candidate addresses published 02/05/2019 Security concerns have been raised after a loophole forced councils to publish the home addresses of candidates standing in the EU elections.
Over 500,000 apply to register to vote ahead of local elections 30/04/2019 Over half a million people have applied to register to vote in the upcoming local elections, according to the Electoral Commission.
Voter ID plans slammed as 'undemocratic' 30/04/2019 Mandatory voter ID requirements will seriously damage democracy, the Electoral Reform Society has warned again ahead of the local elections this week.
Purdah and local government 18/04/2019 What is purdahh and how can those in local government avoid breaking the rules? Mark Whitehead explains.
Campaigners warn of ‘democracy deserts’ in council elections 18/04/2019 More than 800,000 voters are being denied a real choice in the May local elections, according to new analysis by the Electoral Reform Society.
Council elections: A testing time for party alignments 18/04/2019 Like it or not, the council elections will be dominated by an issue that has nothing to do with local government, says Mark Whitehead.
Concern over councils' ability to cope with polls 17/04/2019 Council chiefs have raised concerns with Government about the sector’s capacity to run EU elections so close on the heels of local polls.
Brexit deadlock reveals need for ‘fairer’ voting system, campaigners say 16/04/2019 Electoral reform campaigners are urging politicians to re-start the conversation about proportional representation ahead of the local elections.
Labour considers automatic voter registration 12/04/2019 The Labour Party is considering adopting automatic voter registration as new policy ahead of the upcoming local elections.
Virtual reality used to help people with learning disabilities vote 09/04/2019 The Northern Ireland branch of Mencap is using virtual reality to support people with learning disabilities to vote in the upcoming local elections.
Whitehall announces preparations for EU elections 02/04/2019 The Government has written to the Electoral Commission confirming that it will help local authorities prepare for possible European elections in May.
Figures show no evidence of 'large-scale electoral fraud' 25/03/2019 Campaigners have warned the case for voter ID is getting ‘weaker by the day’ after new figures show there were only eight allegations of personation fraud last year.
NILGA: Give councils the power to change Northern Ireland 11/02/2019 The Northern Ireland Local Government Association (NILGA) has called for the role of councils to be formally reviewed and strengthened after the elections in May, giving greater decision making powers to local people and places.
Tower Hamlets first council to trial photographic entry system in by-elections 07/02/2019 Tower Hamlets Council will be the first in the country to use an automated photographic entry system in two of its by-election counts today.
Rural councils should get the chance to influence voter ID rollout 24/01/2019 Voter ID pilots due to take place across 11 councils this year will help provide an insight into the best way to ensure the integrity of the voting process in the future, says Paul Shevlin.
More councils chosen to pilot voter ID scheme 05/11/2018 The 11 local authorities taking part in the 2019 voter ID pilots in England have been announced by the Government.
Wales set to extend franchise to 16 and 17 year olds 10/10/2018 Welsh Assembly looks set to extend the franchise to 16 and 17 year olds in what campaigners are calling ‘a vital step towards a fairer franchise’ for Wales.
Council hits back at 'insulting' one party state claims 17/09/2018 Manchester City Council has hit back at a claim by the Liberal Democrats that it is a 'one party state' like North Korea.
Lib Dems attack 'supermajority problem' councils 17/09/2018 The Liberal Democrats have launched an attack on 'supermajority problem councils like Manchester' at their annual conference in Brighton.
Voter ID scheme could cost up to £20m per general election, research finds 11/09/2018 The national rollout of the government’s voter ID plans could cost up to £20m per general election, new analysis has revealed today.
Not enough evidence to prosecute in Tower Hamlets fraud case, Met says 10/09/2018 An investigation into allegations of fraud in Tower Hamlets has concluded that there is not enough evidence to prosecute those involved, although evidence of a ‘serious criminal offence’ has been uncovered.
In defence of voter ID 16/08/2018 The subject of voter ID has divided many people, but Bob Neill calls for those sceptical about reform to catch up with the rest of the modern world.
Postal voting pilots ‘well-run’, electoral commission says 01/08/2018 Pilot schemes for postal and proxy voters carried out during last May’s local elections were ‘well-run’, an electoral body has concluded.
People who abuse election candidates could be banned from public office 30/07/2018 People who abuse and intimidate those standing for election could be stripped of their right to hold public office under new government proposals.
Voter ID in perspective 06/07/2018 Jo Miller, in her role as a returning officer, argues that Voter ID is a very expensive way to tackle a problem that is not a top priority in the UK.
Mandatory ID ‘disenfranchises’ voters, electoral watchdog says 25/05/2018 Electoral watchdogs have rejected a claim that a recent trial requiring voters to show ID was 'a great success'.
Voter turnout 'unaffected' by ID scheme says pilot council 23/05/2018 A trial scheme requiring voters to show ID in the recent local elections has been declared a 'great success' by one of the councils taking part.
The voice of a new generation 10/05/2018 Samar Khalil looks at the debate that has divided many, votes at 16, and outlines why this will be a positive move for the future.
Voters turned away from polling booths due to ID scheme 04/05/2018 Would-be voters were turned away from polling booths for the first time in trials of controversial ID schemes designed to tackle electoral fraud.
Election results: voters ‘unconvinced’ by major parties 04/05/2018 The two main parties were stuck in indecisive lock-step following the first England-wide test of public opinion since last year's general election.
Figure used to justify voter ID trials branded as 'misleading' 03/05/2018 A key piece of evidence used to justify controversial ID schemes in elections has been rejected as misleading by the UK's official statistical service, according to electoral campaigners.
Leader of Labour group at Gloucestershire blasts voter ID trial 03/05/2018 The leader of the Labour group at Gloucestershire County Council has branded the voter ID a ‘calculated effort to disenfranchise millions’.
Local authority elections - publicity and decision making 30/04/2018 Tiffany Cloynes outlines some of the legal and practical issues relating to publicity and decision making that may affect local authorities at a time of elections.
Whitehall defends voter ID reform against accusations of ‘discrimination’ 23/04/2018 The Government has defended its plans to require voters to produce ID when voting after watchdog warned reform may discriminate against ethnic minorities.
Polling industry must get ‘house in order’, Lords say 17/04/2018 A Lords select committee today called for ‘tighter oversight’ of opinion polling and digital media in the run up to elections due to the threat they pose to the electoral process.
Political parties must report ‘gender gap’, campaigners say 05/04/2018 Campaigners are calling on the Government to enact legislation to force political parties to report their 'gender gap' when it comes to election candidates.
Leader denies decision to step down related to local plan defeat 04/04/2018 The leader of South Oxfordshire District Council has denied his decision to step down before the local elections is related to the authority’s local plan.
Got 5 to register before May's local elections? 20/03/2018 Emma Hartley explains what resources are available to help boost voter turnout in the upcoming local elections.
Law allowing survivors of domestic abuse to vote anonymously passes 08/03/2018 Changes in voter registration allowing survivors of domestic abuse to vote anonymously successfully passed through Parliament yesterday.
Charities warn voter ID plans could ‘damage turnout’ 07/03/2018 A coalition of charities and academics has warned the Government that plans to enforce voter ID at the upcoming local elections could ‘damage turnout and undermine engagement’.
Voter ID trials are ‘unnecessary and over-bearing’ say campaigners 02/03/2018 The Government has been urged to reconsider its ID voting trials by campaigners due to the ‘tiny’ amount of electoral fraud.
UKIP loses control of its only local authority 02/03/2018 UKIP lost control of Thanet District Council yesterday after a Conservative was voted in as leader.
Voter ID: cure for fraud or unreliable encumbrance? 01/03/2018 Will the voter ID scheme help prevent fraud in the local elections? Mark Whitehead investigates.
Piloting voter ID - what it means for local government 01/03/2018 A new pilot scheme will require voters to produce an ID to take part in the upcoming local elections. Mark Whitehead explains what the scheme is all about.
Tories set for election defeat in three flagship London boroughs poll predicts 22/02/2018 The Conservatives are set to lose at least three key London boroughs in the upcoming local elections, a new poll has suggested.
Requirement to publish home addresses in local elections to be dropped 07/02/2018 Candidates standing as councillors in local elections will soon not have to publish their home addresses on ballot papers, says the prime minister.
Welsh government proposes lowering voting age for council elections 29/01/2018 The Welsh government has laid out proposals for extending the right to vote in council elections to 16 and 17 year olds in a bid to give more people a say in local democracy.
The top 10 things local government can expect in 2018 10/01/2018 Tiffany Cloynes outlines her predictions for the top 10 issues for local government in 2018.
500 shared sites needed to end ‘age apartheid’, think tank says 05/01/2018 A think tank has called for the creation of hundreds of shared sites designed to bring young and old people together and end Britain’s ‘age apartheid’.
Electoral reforms required to avert future crises, commission says 06/12/2017 ‘Urgent action’ is needed to minimise the risks to the delivery of well-run elections in the future, an independent commission says.
Commissioners highlight problems for voters with disabilities 10/11/2017 Some people were unable to vote in the last general election because of their disabilities, according to the Electoral Commission.
Eight out of ten people think elections are well run 11/10/2017 Eight out of ten people believe elections are well run and free from fraud, according to research by the Electoral Commission.
Voter ID pilot launched in local elections 18/09/2017 Voters in five local authorities will have to prove who they are before they can cast their vote in council elections next May, the Government has announced.
Electoral system 'will fail' without urgent action, report warns 04/09/2017 The Government must rethink the electoral system to address the ‘many weaknesses and contradictions’ within it, a new report has argued today.
New plans will make it easier for domestic abuse victims to vote 04/09/2017 The Government has confirmed it will implement plans to make it easier for domestic abuse survivors to register to vote anonymously.
Analysis shows 22 million votes were 'wasted' in General Election 21/08/2017 More than 20 million votes had no impact on the result of the 2017 General Election, according to new analysis by the Electoral Reform Society.
New reforms to help sight impaired people to vote 21/08/2017 Local authorities will now be allowed to use records to help ensure people with a vision impairment receive accessible voting information.
Major shake-up of Welsh council elections unveiled 18/07/2017 Councils could be allowed to introduce proportional representation for local elections under new proposals unveiled by the Welsh Government.

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