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Academics questioned on Government voter ID plans and election challenges

25 October 2019

The Electoral Registration Act Committee hears from two of the UK's leading academic experts in electoral administration, Dr Alistair Clark and Professor Toby James as part of its inquiry into the ERA Act 2013.  The Committee will also take evidence from a second panel of electoral registration officers. Topics will include the Government's plans to introduce compulsory voter ID, and the challenges of managing regular and unscheduled elections.

Witnesses

Tuesday 29 October in Committee Room 2A, Palace of Westminster

At 3.30pm

  • Mark Emson, Electoral Manager, Peterborough City Council
  • Lindsay Tomlinson, Electoral Services manager, Allerdale Borough Council

At 4.30pm

  • Dr Alistair Clark, Reader in Politics, Newcastle University
  • Prof Toby James, Head of Politics, University of East Anglia

Possible questions

  • What are the key practical issues around the Government's proposals to introduce mandatory voter ID?
  • How big a problem is electoral fraud and what effect has the Electoral Registration Act had on tackling it?
  • Has the introduction of individual registration been positive?
  • How have local authorities managed online registration and surges of public interest around general elections and referendums?
  • What impact has the introduction of individual electoral registration had on efforts to reach under-registered groups?
  • Does the Government properly fund councils for the cost of running elections?
  • What are the key problems in relation to the annual canvass?

Further information

Image: PA