Voters risk being locked out – unless this crucial change is made When the ‘virtual Parliament’ was launched at the end of April, the UK was witnessing around 5,000 new coronavirus cases a day. The first wave subsided. But now, we are seeing over 15,000 new cases... Posted 20 Oct 2020
Early voting doesn’t have to mean long queues Two news stories stood out this week. As early voting opened in some US states, images of voters queuing all day to vote were greeted as signs of enthusiasm in America but confusion outside, while... Posted 15 Oct 2020
This simple change could help bring in the ‘missing millions’ Rather than putting up bureaucratic barriers to engaging with politics, we should be ensuring everyone can use their vote. Posted 15 Oct 2020
New Zealand’s MMP electoral system: how does it work? New Zealand actor Jack Buchanan explains how MMP works in this music video created in partnership with the New Zealand Electoral Commission. Politics in New Zealand can look to outsiders to be much like politics... Posted 14 Oct 2020
Parties can back this simple change today to help bring in the ‘missing millions’ A cross-party group of peers are backing an amendment to improve the accuracy of the electoral register setting out new ways to include 16 and 17- year olds on the nationwide list – so they... Posted 08 Oct 2020
Are Guernsey about to hold the strangest election in the world? On 7 October, voters in Guernsey will head to the polls for what is likely to be the ‘strangest [election] in the world’. For the first time, the vote will be held across one island-wide constituency which will see... Posted 06 Oct 2020
Government must do more to ‘level up politics’ for women and minorities Despite some gains in the last general election, women and minority groups remain highly under-represented in politics, according to a new report ‘Data Drives Diversity’ published by the Centenary Action Group. Despite the 2019 parliament... Posted 05 Oct 2020
ERS in the Press – September 2020 As the government continues to implement new restrictions to fight the second wave of coronavirus, the cracks in Britain’s political system continue to grow behind the curtain. In September we released new research on party... Posted 02 Oct 2020
Ministers just vowed to plough ahead with a ‘dangerous’ change to elections The ERS and groups representing elderly voters and BME communities are warning that mandatory voter ID risks pulling up the drawbridge to thousands of voters, after the government confirmed plans to impose the ‘show your... Posted 02 Oct 2020
Parties have become even more secretive about their online campaigning Openness and transparency are the key foundations of any democracy. But today we find too much of our politics is shrouded in secrecy. Too often voters remain unsure about who is behind the messages they... Posted 29 Sep 2020