Should I rank all the candidates in the Scottish council elections? On Thursday 5 May, 2022, voters will go to the polls to elect councillors for each of Scotland’s 32 local authorities. This will be the fourth time that Scottish councils will be elected using a proportional system,... Posted 25 Feb 2022
The Elections Bill could open the floodgates on party funding We’ve spoken a lot about the danger of the Elections Bill, which returned to the House of Lords today. From wasting £180 million a year on an intrusive ID card scheme for voting, to hobbling... Posted 23 Feb 2022
The Electoral Commission’s letter on the Elections Bill is unprecedented The Electoral Commission has written an unprecedented letter to the government, calling for them to reconsider provisions in the Elections Bill that would undermine the Commission’s role of oversight of our elections. The Commission’s letter,... Posted 22 Feb 2022
Does proportional representation lead to higher turnout? A healthy democracy requires healthy levels of democratic participation – the most crucial element of which is turnout at general elections. But Britain has one of the lowest turnout rates in the west – a... Posted 10 Feb 2022
The Single Transferable Vote means every vote counts in New South Wales’ local elections In the closing days of 2021, I braved the scorch of the blistering Australian summer sun, walking through the streets of a leafy Sydney suburb and dropping flyers into letterboxes for the Sutherland Shire Council... Posted 07 Feb 2022
ERS in the Press: January 2022 Scandal and crisis at the heart of government have dominated the news as we begin 2022. Yet in a packed news cycle of covid regulation breaking parties in Downing Street, and a pantomime-esque will-they-won’t-they over... Posted 04 Feb 2022
The government aren’t listening – make your voices heard on 5th February Join the Elections Bill Rally in Parliament Square. The passing of the government’s Election Bill through the House of Commons last week was a huge blow to democracy. It now heads to the Lords, with... Posted 28 Jan 2022
How are the members of upper houses chosen around the world? Many countries use a bicameral political system – meaning that they have two chambers in their parliament. These parliaments are comprised of a lower house where the government is formed and day-to-day politics is carried... Posted 27 Jan 2022
Thanks to our supporters we’ve recruited a new Lakeman Fellow We are delighted to announce that we recently appointed a new Lakeman Fellow to join the ERS team. The Lakeman Fellowship for Diversity in Politics is a scheme we set up in 2018, as a unique work... Posted 21 Jan 2022
How are Prime Ministers chosen around the world? With pressure mounting on Boris Johnson, it’s looking increasingly possible that Britain could well soon have a new Prime Minister. Who it would be, would be a decision for Conservative MPs and, possibly, Conservative party... Posted 19 Jan 2022