News and Comment

The latest news and commentary from the Electoral Reform Society.

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Is there a limit to political donations in the UK?

Political parties cost money to run. In the UK, they’re funded by a variety of sources, including membership fees, grants, and donations. Donations come from individuals, companies, and trade unions. The Electoral Commission reported that...

Posted 04 Jun 2025

If the Government wants to ensure that we, the voters, trust our democratic institutions, it needs to start with ending the reign of big donors

What’s wrong with First Past the Post?

First Past the Post (FPTP) is the name for the voting system used to elect Members of Parliament (MPs) to Westminster. It’s also used in a variety of other elections across the UK, including local...

Posted 07 May 2025

In a representative democracy, we ought to have a Parliament that matches the way people voted

New research on the chilling effect of voter ID published

New research published last month by Dr Tom Barton at Kings College London shows the potential detrimental effect of new voter ID laws on turnout. The research shows that the Voter ID requirement deterred and...

Posted 07 May 2025

research shows that the Voter ID requirement deterred and effectively disenfranchised an estimated 10,571 potential voters

Why are our mayors winning on less than 30% of the vote?

This past week’s mayoral elections marked a worrying milestone for democracy in England. For the first time ever, two combined authority mayors have been elected on less than 30% of the vote – with one...

Posted 07 May 2025

With growing support for more parties, voters are demanding more choice