1-20 of 139 results for subject:Elections
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To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 19 December 2017 to Question 118799, what changes he recommended for the Certificate of Visual Impairment in England; and what obligations will be placed on electoral administrators as a result of those changes.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 19 December 2017 to Question 118799, what changes he recommended for the Certificate of Visual Impairment in England; and what obligations will be placed on electoral administrators as a result of those changes.
Following discussions, including with the RNIB, I recommended widening the use of the Certificate of Visual Impairment in England to support severely sight impaired (blind) and sight impaired (partially sighted) people to participate in elections. There is no change to the support electoral administrators are required to provide to blind and partially sighted people within current statutory requirements but it increases the opportunity for people to be made aware of the services on offer and promotes communication of those services.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant the Answer of 4 September 2017 to Question 7725 on Elections, when he plans to respond to the Law Commission's 2016 report; and what the reason is for the time taken to publish that response.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant the Answer of 4 September 2017 to Question 7725 on Elections, when he plans to respond to the Law Commission's 2016 report; and what the reason is for the time taken to publish that response.
We are working with the Law Commissions on how best to implement the recommendations of their review of electoral law.
We have agreed with the Law Commissions and key electoral stakeholders possible means of effecting reform through the drafting of secondary legislation. Work is underway on this by the Law Commissions, who will be supported by Cabinet Office and the Electoral Commission.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will undertake a consultation on trends in levels of (a) registration and (b) participation in elections of disabled people.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will undertake a consultation on trends in levels of (a) registration and (b) participation in elections of disabled people.
The Government is currently in the process of analysing responses to the recent Call for Evidence on the accessibility of elections which sought opinion on the experiences of disabled people in registering to vote and voting at elections. A report of key findings and recommendations will be produced in partnership with the Cabinet Office chaired Accessibility of Elections Working Group to be published in spring 2018.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he has taken to ensure that people on a disability register can be contacted by electoral administrators in advance of an election to check that (a) they are registered to vote and (b) that adequate support is available to ensure...
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he has taken to ensure that people on a disability register can be contacted by electoral administrators in advance of an election to check that (a) they are registered to vote and (b) that adequate support is available to ensure...
Following my recommendation a change was made to the Certificate of Visual Impairment in England by the Department of Health to allow local authorities to contact those on sight registers to ask if support could be given to assist them to participate in electoral events, facilitated through an amendment to care and support statutory guidance.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the effect of the EU General Data Protection Regulation on the roles and responsibilities of Electoral Registration Officers and Returning Officers; and what steps the Government is taking to communicate the effect of such changes to...
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the effect of the EU General Data Protection Regulation on the roles and responsibilities of Electoral Registration Officers and Returning Officers; and what steps the Government is taking to communicate the effect of such changes to...
The Electoral Commission has a statutory role to provide guidance to Electoral Registration Officers and Returning Officers. It is working closely with the Information Commissioner's Office, the Association of Electoral Administrators, the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and the Scottish Assessors Association to develop guidance on the impact of the General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Bill currently being considered in the House of Lords on the electoral administration responsibilities of Registration Officers and Returning Officers.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what Government policy is on EU citizens voting in local elections in the UK.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what Government policy is on EU citizens voting in local elections in the UK.
EU citizens can vote in local elections in the UK.The Government was clear from the start of withdrawal negotiations that EU citizens in the UK and UK citizens in the EU should have their voting and candidacy rights protected.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many election payments for services and expenses of returning officers in connection with the 2016 Elections for Police and Crime Commissioners (a) have been settled and (b) remain outstanding; and if he will publish the costs of those payments.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many election payments for services and expenses of returning officers in connection with the 2016 Elections for Police and Crime Commissioners (a) have been settled and (b) remain outstanding; and if he will publish the costs of those payments.
The Elections Claims Unit at the Cabinet Office has settled 162 Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) claims to date. There are 231 claims outstanding of which 35 are going through final settlement checks and 100 are on hold pending a response from Local Returning Officers. A report on the cost of the 2016 PCC election will be published once all claims have been settled.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 28 November 2017 to Question 112666, on Local Government: Elections, whether Bolton Council expressed an interest to his Department about participating in the Voter ID pilots for the May 2018 local elections; and if he will place...
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 28 November 2017 to Question 112666, on Local Government: Elections, whether Bolton Council expressed an interest to his Department about participating in the Voter ID pilots for the May 2018 local elections; and if he will place...
We are currently considering a request, under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, for related information.
On the one hand, the Government needs to take account of the public interest of making its decisions as transparently as possible. But on the other hand, we must also ensure policy decisions are informed by a free and frank exchange of views about all available options, and a clear understanding of their implications.
I will ask officials to write to the Hon member when a decision has been made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what information his Department holds on the reasons for Bolton Council declining to participate in the voter ID pilot for the May 2018 local elections.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what information his Department holds on the reasons for Bolton Council declining to participate in the voter ID pilot for the May 2018 local elections.
We are currently considering a request, under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, for related information.
On the one hand, the Government needs to take account of the public interest of making its decisions as transparently as possible. But on the other hand, we must also ensure policy decisions are informed by a free and frank exchange of views about all available options, and a clear understanding of their implications.
I will ask officials to write to the Hon member when a decision has been made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will work with local authorities to ensure that none of the voter ID pilots taking place in May 2018 accept only a passport or driving license as valid identification.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will work with local authorities to ensure that none of the voter ID pilots taking place in May 2018 accept only a passport or driving license as valid identification.
The voter ID pilot schemes are part of a comprehensive programme of reform that will enhance public confidence in our elections, and strengthen electoral integrity.
It has always been Cabinet Office’s view that voter ID pilots will not disenfranchise any legitimate voter and that piloting voter ID with local authorities is the best way to ensure successful implementation nationally. Local authorities best understand the needs of their electors and each pilot has reflected its preference for the form and combination of ID. No-one will need to purchase identification documents to be able to vote in the pilots scheduled for May 2018 and the valid identification will not be limited to a passport or driving licence. The pilot local authorities and the Electoral Commission continue to work closely with the Cabinet Office to ensure that this is possible and that every eligible voice can be heard.
We want to ensure the system is safe and secure. It is not acceptable that anyone should be disenfranchised from the process.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 4 July 2017 to Question 2214, which local authorities will participate in the proof of identity pilot for the May 2018 local elections.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 4 July 2017 to Question 2214, which local authorities will participate in the proof of identity pilot for the May 2018 local elections.
The opportunity to pilot voter ID in May 2018 was offered to all local authorities in Great Britain and we are pleased that Woking, Gosport, Bromley, Swindon and Watford have committed to do so. In addition, Tower Hamlets will be piloting measures to improve the integrity of the postal and proxy vote processes respectively.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 18 October 2017 to Question 9559, on electronic voting, whether he plans to trial postal votes only for parish or town council elections.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 18 October 2017 to Question 9559, on electronic voting, whether he plans to trial postal votes only for parish or town council elections.
The Government has no intention of mandating postal votes for local and parish council elections. It is the Government’s position that electors should have the choice between voting in person, by proxy or through a postal vote.
Furthermore, mandating postal voting in any poll would require all electors to provide ‘postal vote identifiers’ (e.g. signature and date of birth as are used now) to support voters securely casting a postal ballot. The Government is concerned that this would suppress turnout, and that mandating postal voting for a particular type of poll would ultimately prejudice some electors by making it harder for them to vote.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the Government plans to publish its findings and recommendations on consultation on access to elections, and what steps it is taking to ensure that no-one is disenfranchised in 2018 local elections in London.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the Government plans to publish its findings and recommendations on consultation on access to elections, and what steps it is taking to ensure that no-one is disenfranchised in 2018 local elections in London.
The Government launched the Call for Evidence on access to elections to support the Government’s commitment to make the electoral system fully accessible for all electors.
256 responses were received to the consultation which closed on 14 November. The Government, in partnership with the members of the Cabinet Office chaired Accessibility of Elections Working Group, which includes representatives from leading charities and key electoral stakeholders, will now review the evidence received and produce a report of key findings and recommendations. We plan to publish the report in Spring 2018.
A range of measures are in place that are intended to ensure that the electoral process is as accessible and user friendly as possible, for all types of electors and elections. We will soon lay draft legislation to improve the accessibility of the anonymous registration scheme for survivors of domestic violence, which I hope will be implemented in time for the 2018 local elections. We also recently implemented the findings of an accessibility review on the “Register to vote” website which will make it easier for people with disabilities to complete voter registration and participate in the democratic process.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which local authorities expressed interest in conducting a voter ID pilot in polling stations for the May 2018 local elections but subsequently decided not to proceed with that pilot.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which local authorities expressed interest in conducting a voter ID pilot in polling stations for the May 2018 local elections but subsequently decided not to proceed with that pilot.
The opportunity to pilot voter ID in May 2018 was offered to all local authorities in Great Britain and Woking, Gosport, Bromley, Swindon and Watford have committed to do so. In addition, Tower Hamlets will be piloting measures to improve the integrity of the postal vote process. In September 2017 we announced that Slough would also be piloting voter ID however it subsequently voted to withdraw from the pilot.
While working with those that expressed interest over the following months the Cabinet Office and the local authorities themselves agreed on the extent of their participation, including their continuation to a live pilot or as a supportive reference authority. Participation is voluntary and a matter for each local authority
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 18 October 2017 to Question 9559, on electronic voting, whether he will trial electronic voting for parish or town council elections.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 18 October 2017 to Question 9559, on electronic voting, whether he will trial electronic voting for parish or town council elections.
The Government does not intend to trial e-Voting for parish or town council elections. As I outlined to the Rt. Hon. Member for Easington in my previous answer to which he refers: the use of e-Voting raises a number of issues which would need to be considered carefully.
At present, there are concerns felt by many, that e-Voting may not be suitably rigorous and secure, and could be vulnerable to attack or fraud. To provide a system over which there are doubts, for any type of statutory election, would undermine the value of the votes cast in those polls.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps the Government is taking to improve levels of confidence in the electoral process.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps the Government is taking to improve levels of confidence in the electoral process.
The Government treat the integrity of our democratic processes extremely seriously. The Government continue work to deliver voter identification pilots in May 2018 local elections, look for opportunities to end postal vote harvesting and to tackle the threat of disinformation and propaganda.
We are committed to providing a clear and secure democracy, and we continue to work with local authorities to deliver voter identification pilots for the May 2018 local elections in areas such as Woking, Gosport, Bromley, Watford and Tower Hamlets, as part of our programme to strengthen electoral integrity.
We are committed to providing a clear and secure democracy, and we continue to work with local authorities to deliver voter identification pilots for the May 2018 local elections in areas such as Woking, Gosport, Bromley, Watford and Tower Hamlets, as part of our programme to strengthen electoral integrity.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what progress the Government has made on tackling electoral fraud.
I believe that the UK electoral system is one of the most robust in the world. It is difficult to manipulate through a cyber-attack, as we operate a manual counting and manual voting system. As the First Secretary mentioned in his earlier answer, that may be seen as old-fashioned, but it ensures that our system is protected and our democracy safeguarded.
I believe that the UK electoral system is one of the most robust in the world. It is difficult to manipulate through a cyber-attack, as we operate a manual counting and manual voting system. As the First Secretary mentioned in his earlier answer, that may be seen as old-fashioned, but it ensures that our system is protected and our democracy safeguarded.
Many people believe that online voting may have potential for the future. What is the Minister’s assessment of online voting in the light of allegations of Russian electoral hacking?
The hon. Gentleman makes an interesting point, which I will be interested to go away and consider. We are already looking at issues of tenant security deposits, for example—one of the largest groups not on the register are movers and renters, which causes that churn. That is why we are determined to ensure that we have better data to identify where we need to focus our attention and ensure that everyone is able to register to vote.
The hon. Gentleman makes an interesting point, which I will be interested to go away and consider. We are already looking at issues of tenant security deposits, for example—one of the largest groups not on the register are movers and renters, which causes that churn. That is why we are determined to ensure that we have better data to identify where we need to focus our attention and ensure that everyone is able to register to vote.
Will the Government consider using credit reference agency data to improve the accuracy of the electoral register?
On the general principle of electoral fraud, it is absolutely right that we look at future measures to tackle electoral integrity. It is important that we should have confidence in our democratic system going forward. We will be looking at absent voting arrangements and postal vote harvesting, and we will introduce legislation in future to tackle these issues.
On the general principle of electoral fraud, it is absolutely right that we look at future measures to tackle electoral integrity. It is important that we should have confidence in our democratic system going forward. We will be looking at absent voting arrangements and postal vote harvesting, and we will introduce legislation in future to tackle these issues.
Is the Minister aware that at the general election in June, there was a 300% increase in proxy votes in the Foyle constituency, resulting in Sinn Féin winning the seat by 169 votes? Many people are specifically saying that that was a clear case of electoral fraud and the theft of a constituency in this House. What will the Minister do to ensure that that does not happen again?