This Elections Bill is a major step forward for our democracy. It will give more young people a say, modernise our outdated registration system, and strengthen rules around campaign finance.
These are reforms the Electoral Reform Society has campaigned for over many years – real wins that will help make our elections fairer, more inclusive, and more trusted. Now our task is to make sure these reforms are delivered in practice.
That’s why we will be monitoring progress closely, holding decision-makers to account, and ensuring the bill delivers the real democratic change people deserve.
Extending the franchise
This highly anticipated bill will make the historic move to extend the franchise to 16- and 17-year-olds, something we have long campaigned for. We know that engaging young people in democracy, alongside improved democratic education and support, makes long-term improvements to participation and engagement, and not just for young people.
A registration revolution
Alongside this, the government confirmed their intention to improve voter registration. We have consistently been making the case for a modernised and more automated registration system to make it simple for voters. The UK’s registration system lags behind other countries and puts up unnecessary barriers for voters. We need to get the missing millions on the register and a more automated system will help to do so.
A reassessment of the unnecessary voter ID scheme
After a long campaign highlighting the unnecessary and damaging impact of compulsory photographic voter ID, it is great to see that the government has listened and will be making significant changes to the scheme; allowing the use of widely-held non-photographic ID, in the form of bank cards.
This is something we have been pressing for, and it will go a long way to reducing the damage of this unnecessary scheme.
Tackling dodgy money in politics
If dark money can buy influence, it damages our democratic institutions. And right now, that’s a real risk.
Measures to tighten political finance loopholes to ensure that impermissible donations cannot sneak into our politics and measures to strengthen the Electoral Commission’s ability to enforce the rules are also crucial in protecting our democracy.