Laura Lock 14 October 2021

It’s now or never for modern democracy

It’s now or never for modern democracy image

The Elections Bill has reached Committee Stage. Much of the noise is around voter ID. But this is not a single-issue Bill. It cannot be considered in isolation, but must rather be looked at from the perspective of where we are as a democracy and how elections are currently run.

Any new electoral law teeters atop a pile of legislation dating back 149 years to the 1872 Ballot Act – laying out our tradition of ballot papers and pencils on strings.

Fundamental change came 38 years ago, with the Representation of the People Act 1983, laying the major framework for how elections are run today.

Since 1983, a further 29 pieces of primary legislation and a huge 68 pieces of secondary legislation have all impacted on how electoral registration and electoral administration is run. This includes the devolved nations, who continue to diverge from UK practice on a national level.

Read the full feature for free here.

Photo: BasPhoto / Shutterstock.com

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Casual Duty Managers (Sports Centres)

London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and London Borough of Wandsworth
£14.28 per hour plus 12.07% holiday relief pay al
Casual Duty Managers (Sports Centres)
Recuriter: London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and London Borough of Wandsworth

Community Support Worker - Centralised Safeguarding Triage

Essex County Council
£25395.00 - £32131.00 per annum + +26 Days Leave & Local Gov Pension
Community Support Worker - Centralised Safeguarding TriagePermanent, Full Time£25,395 to £32,131 per annumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Mechanical Engineer (Gas) - Harlow District Council

Essex County Council
Up to £450.0000 per day
Mechanical Engineer (Gas) Location, HarlowFull time, Temporary 6-12 Months £350.88 PAYE / £450.00 Umbrella Closing Date
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Principal Planner - Basildon Borough Council

Essex County Council
£50 - £55 per hour
Principal Planner - Basildon Borough Council Full-Time, Temporary 6 Months Contract 36.25 hours£50-£55 per hour Umbrella Closing Date
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Principal Systems Analyst Applications

Oxfordshire County Council
£46412 - £49282
The ICT Principal Systems Analyst will be the subject matter expert on the Children's Social Care and Early Help Applications. They will be aware of and will contribute to Application roadmap developments, keep abreast of legislative changes and customer Oxford
Recuriter: Oxfordshire County Council
Linkedin Banner