Digital imprints: what are they and why are they useful?This general election will be the biggest we’ve seen yet for online campaigning. It’s an area where the ERS, along with many others, have long called for updates in electoral law. While there is still...Posted 06 Jun 2024
Four steps to protect our elections from AI interferenceI recently co-signed a letter with a host of leading third-sector organisations, as well as consumer champion Martin Lewis and Wikipedia Founder Jimmy Wales, calling on political parties to agree a set of guidelines and...Posted 09 May 2024
Will we be seeing political adverts on our streaming services?ITV recently confirmed to the Guardian that it is considering allowing political ads on its ITVX streaming service. At first glance, this may not seem like a huge development. Social media is already awash with...Posted 18 Apr 2024
Electoral Commission Chair shares perspective with MPs and Peers at ERS backed eventLast month we hosted an APPG for Electoral Reform event at Portcullis House, The future of the electoral system – in conversation with John Pullinger CB, Chair of the Electoral Commission. We were delighted to...Posted 11 Apr 2024
Now it’s over to the Lords to prevent the government’s assault on democracyYesterday was a dark day for democracy. Despite widespread opposition from campaigners, election experts, academics and civil society the government’s Elections Bill successfully passed through the commons. The Bill includes clauses introducing voter ID, more...Posted 18 Jan 2022
The government should stop and re-think the 2022 Elections Bill as it returns to the CommonsThe government’s Elections Bill returns to the House of Commons on Monday 17th January despite the opposition against their plans growing from all sides of the chamber. The bill has faced fierce opposition from campaigners,...Posted 14 Jan 2022
What is the 2022 Elections Bill? And why is it an issue?Earlier this month, the government published its long-awaited Elections Bill which makes changes to the administration and conduct of elections with the stated aim of ensuring that ‘UK elections remain secure, fair, modern, inclusive and...Posted 23 Jul 2021
How can we better regulate our elections? Earlier this month, buried amidst the many reactions to the government’s Elections Bill, the Committee on Standards in Public Life (CSPL) published its report on regulating election finance, following a year-long inquiry to which we...Posted 20 Jul 2021
2022 Elections Bill: Has the government jumped the gun?Proposals to reform our election laws are like buses. You wait around ages for one and then two turn up at once. Earlier this week the government published its long-awaited Elections Bill – legislation they...Posted 09 Jul 2021
These government plans represent a takeover of our independent election watchdogMinisters have announced plans that gut the UK’s independent Electoral Commission, representing a power grab over election scrutiny. Posted 18 Jun 2021