ERS in the Press: March 2021The warping effects of First Past the Post were in the news again this month, with the Times’ Patrick Maguire penning a piece on the ‘one-party fiefdoms’ that plague our politics. Darren Hughes, responded with...Posted 15 Apr 2021
Why voter ID is the opposite of what we need to improve our electionsThat there is growing opposition to government plans to introduce mandatory voter ID should come as no surprise. Requirements to show photo ID at polling stations, which are expected to be introduced in 2023, are...Posted 12 Mar 2021
UK government’s mandatory voter ID plans slammed by US civil rights groupsLeading US civil rights groups have sounded the alarm over UK government plans to exclude those who lack ID from the polling station.Posted 04 Mar 2021
How government voter ID plans are an expensive and dangerous distractionAt a cost of up to £20m per election, this is a colossal waste of energy and resources at a time when we should be focusing on the UK’s recovery.Posted 18 Feb 2021
7 democratic developments to watch out for this yearWhat does democracy look like in a pandemic? It’s a question that came up a lot last year – and 2021 seems no different. This year could see some major developments when it comes to...Posted 18 Jan 2021
Five times the ERS set the news agenda in 2020Despite the difficulties of 2020, the ERS kept up the pressure and make the case for political reform in a crowded news cycle. From promoting our key campaigns through our analysis of the 2019 election...Posted 13 Jan 2021
Building a better democracy – 2020 and the Electoral Reform SocietyIt’s hard to think of a more troubling year in living memory. But the public health crisis has, perhaps counter-intuitively, put issues of democracy at the forefront. The election may feel like a distant memory,...Posted 07 Dec 2020
Papers, please: Why the UK must think again before importing US-style voter ID to BritainVoting is a key cornerstone of any democratic system. Just as important are the principles underpinning it: that every vote should be equal, and every vote should count. The US elections have brought these principles...Posted 03 Nov 2020
ERS in the Press – October 2020This month has seen a renewed interest in proportional representation internationally. Willie Sullivan backed up the case for a fairer voting system in Canada, drawing on his experience in Scotland. “If you want a system...Posted 29 Oct 2020
Ministers just vowed to plough ahead with a ‘dangerous’ change to electionsThe 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