Committees

Public call for evidence on the Electoral Registration Act 2013 launched

25 July 2019

The Select Committee on the Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013 has today issued its public call for evidence, inviting written submissions on the operation of the Act and on what reforms are needed to improve the electoral process. Submissions must be received by 4pm on Monday 9 September 2019.

Background

The House of Lords Select Committee on the Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013 was appointed on 13 June 2019 to carry out post-legislative scrutiny of the Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013  and to make recommendations to the Government. The Committee began taking oral evidence in early July and is required to agree its report by the end of March 2020.

Chair's comments

Lord Shutt of Greetland, Chairman of the Committee said:

"The Act made important changes such as introducing individual registration and gave powers to Government to reform or abolish the annual canvass of electors. As a Committee we intend to explore, in detail, how this Act is working in practice and make recommendations to Government on how it could be improved. To inform our work we want to hear from as broad a range of people as possible. If you have a view on how the Act is working or could be improved, look at our call for evidence and let us know what you think."

Questions the Committee are seeking to answer include:

  • Has the introduction of individual electoral registration been a positive development overall? Has it achieved its objectives, and how does it compare with the previous household registration system?
  • How well was the transition to individual electoral registration managed? How might it have been done differently?
  • Has the Act been an effective measure in its stated intention of tackling electoral fraud?
  • How has the implementation of the Act addressed offences such as personation and duplicate voting, and do further steps need to be taken to tackle these?
  • Is the annual canvass fit for purpose?
  • Are elections in the United Kingdom currently well managed and regulated overall?
  • What has been the effect of the other changes to electoral administration made in the Act?
  • What has been the impact of introducing online registration?
  • What is your view of the Government's proposal for voters to require identification when they vote?

Further information

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