Written evidence submitted by Centenary Action (EVO 09)

Centenary Action was founded in 2018 by Professor Helen Pankhurst CBE to build on the legacy of the suffrage movement and campaign for a gender-equal Parliament by 2028, the centenary of equal franchise. We are a leading voice for women’s political representation, bringing together over 100 activists, politicians, and academics across party lines to drive change through advocacy and collaboration.

Our mission is to dismantle the barriers preventing women from participating fully in politics. We have identified three key barriers to women’s political participation, one of which is the culture and practices within politics that deter and exclude women. As part of our campaign to address these issues, we advocate for reforms that ensure Parliament becomes a workplace that works for women and supports their continued presence and advancement in politics. We are submitting evidence to this inquiry on electronic voting to further this goal, as we believe such reforms can contribute significantly to creating a more inclusive and accessible parliamentary environment for all.

Centenary Action has made this submission with support from the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership, with particular thanks to Dr Minna Cowper-Coles and Elona Gashi. We are also grateful for the input received from Professor Sarah Childs and Dr Jessica C. Smith.

What impact do the current arrangements for divisions have on Members with protected characteristics and what would be the impacts of introducing electronic voting on such Members?

We believe that introducing electronic voting would be beneficial for women, particularly those with caring responsibilities and for disabled people.  This is supported by a body of research focused on making parliaments more gender and diversity sensitive. Below is the supporting evidence:

●       Electronic voting is a key recommendation in the The Good Parliament report, which offers a blueprint for making the House of Commons more representative and inclusive.

●       As highlighted in The Remotely Representative House, electronic voting could significantly enhance accessibility for MPs with disabilities, caring responsibilities, or other challenges that make participation in traditional division lobbies difficult.

●       The Open House report advocates for voting reform on the basis that it would ‘enable MPs to better balance their various roles and responsibilities while also making the job of an MP more accessible to people from different backgrounds.’

●       Centenary Action’s Breaking down barriers: Empowering disabled women in politics calls for electronic voting as a key reform to make Parliament more accessible to disabled women, particularly those with caring responsibilities, highlighting how the culture of presenteeism can be a barrier to participation.

●       In Disability and Political Representation, Evans and Reher advocate for remote voting to improve accessibility, criticising the end of remote voting during the pandemic as evidence of institutions prioritising tradition over the needs of disabled politicians.

●       The introduction of electronic voting would allow MPs to make more efficient use of their time, which would have particular benefits for those with energy limiting conditions or caring responsibilities.
 

●       The introduction of electronic voting would move Parliament away from a system that accommodates needs through individualised and informal provision, such as pairing, towards an institution that is better suited to a diverse range of needs. (Smith and Childs forthcoming  - chapter available from authors in advance of publication)
 

●       Evidence from the COVID-19 hybrid proceedings shows that remote participation supported women MPs, with research indicating they were more likely than men to use virtual participation, likely due to disproportionate caring responsibilities. The Women and Equalities Committee also noted that female MPs particularly valued this flexibility.
 

●       Centenary Action and others have called for a review of hybrid measures' impact on MPs with protected characteristics, but this has not yet occurred. The introduction or trial of electronic voting must include robust monitoring of its impact, as recommended in Effective and Inclusive Parliaments.

Beyond improving the experience of current MPs, adopting electronic voting would send a strong signal that Parliament is committed to becoming a more modern and inclusive workplace. This could help encourage more women, disabled people, and others from underrepresented groups to stand for election, knowing that Parliament is actively working to accommodate diverse needs.

What are the differences between in person voting in the division lobbies and options for voting elsewhere, either on the Estate or more remotely?

We believe Electronic voting would free up MPs time and enable them to be more efficient. The current in-person voting system in the division lobbies is time-consuming and can become congested, creating difficulties for some MPs. Introducing a fixed ‘division hour,’ allowing multiple votes to occur simultaneously, would further enhance the impact of introducing electronic voting. While the opportunity for lobbying Ministers in the division lobby is valued, electronic voting could free up time for more meaningful engagement.

On-site electronic voting

MPs could vote from their desks, in the Chamber or at voting stations throughout the parliamentary estate. On-site electronic voting would have the added benefit of ensuring that Ministers remain present on the estate and accessible to colleagues, preserving important opportunities for backbenchers to engage with them directly.

Off-site electronic voting

There are compelling arguments for extending electronic voting beyond the parliamentary estate. An off-estate voting option would significantly improve participation for MPs who, for various reasons, may be unable to attend in person. This could include MPs with long term health conditions, caring commitments, those suffering a bereavement or a shorter term illness. Enabling remote access would also ensure that when a member is unable to be physically present, constituents are not denied representation.

Offering MPs the choice of how they vote would enhance flexibility and inclusivity in Parliament. As The Remotely Representative House suggests, MPs should be free to choose how they participate, as long as it doesn’t hinder the effectiveness of the House.

What lessons can be learned from other legislatures which operate electronic voting systems?

Electronic voting is emerging as an international norm and being increasingly used by parliaments around the world. The widespread implementation of remote and electronic voting highlights its effectiveness in improving participation, suggesting that such a system could offer similar benefits in the UK Parliament by enhancing accessibility and inclusivity for MPs with diverse needs, such as those with caring responsibilities or disabilities.

Technological reforms like electronic voting are now seen as integral to international standards for gender-sensitive parliaments. At the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s (IPU) 145th Assembly in 2022, representatives from 120 parliaments adopted the Kigali Declaration, reaffirming their commitment to advancing gender sensitivity. Among its ten action pledges for the next decade is a call to harness parliamentary technology, such as electronic and remote voting, to dismantle structural obstacles and enable equal participation.

The UK House of Commons risks falling behind. While many global and domestic legislatures are embracing these innovations, the Commons has not kept pace. Notably, the House of Lords has retained some electronic voting capabilities. Valuable lessons can also be drawn from the devolved parliaments in Scotland and Wales, both of which have taken proactive steps to retain hybrid and electronic voting systems post-pandemic.

Scotland

The Scottish Parliament chose to retain remote voting after the pandemic. A Parliament for All: Report of the Parliament’s Gender Sensitive Audit examined the participation and representation of women MSPs, as well as the broader culture and practices of the institution. The audit found that ‘The retention of hybrid and remote systems was seen as increasing flexibility and access, including for those with caring responsibilities.’ While there was strong support for these measures, some concerns were raised about being perceived as lacking in commitment if not seen to be physically in the chamber.  This highlights the importance of effectively communicating the value of electronic and remote participation to the public, ensuring there is understanding and confidence that members continue to fulfil their parliamentary duties regardless of location.

Wales

After consulting with members, the Welsh Senedd chose to continue with hybrid provisions after the pandemic. Those in favour felt that it would attract more diverse people to consider being MSs.

What lessons were learned from similar temporary arrangements that were implemented during the Covid-19 pandemic in the House of Commons?

We believe the successful implementation of remote voting during the pandemic provides clear evidence of its practicality and value. This is supported by The Remotely Representative House, a 2021 report published by Centenary Action and co-authored by Dr Jessica C. Smith and Professor Sarah Childs. The report examined the lessons learned from the introduction of hybrid measures in the House of Commons during the COVID-19 pandemic. Key findings include:

●       The viability of electronic voting was proven by the trial of the system during the pandemic. The MemberHub system was robust, secure, accurate, and reliable, with results delivered almost instantaneously.

●       There was broad support for continuing with electronic voting from MPs. The survey conducted for the report found 80% of MPs supported continuing remote voting via MemberHub, with even stronger support among women MPs (85.7%) compared to men (79.3%). It was particularly popular among MPs from non-English constituencies (96%).

●       MPs showed a preference for continued use of electronic voting over proxy voting.  When asked about voting preferences for the future, 68.5% of MPs chose remote electronic voting, compared to 27.7% for proxy voting and just 3.7% for paired voting, indicating a clear preference for remote voting.

Together, these findings demonstrate not only that electronic voting is technically feasible, but that it is strongly supported by MPs as a more inclusive, efficient, and accessible way of working, offering a compelling case for its reintroduction in the House of Commons.

April 2025