Agenda item

To receive a presentation from the Electoral Services Manager on the latest information regarding the implementation of the Elections Act 2022 following the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities conference held in Birmingham on 12 September 2022.

The Electoral Services Manager gave a presentation on the latest information regarding the implementation of the Elections Act 2022 following the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities conference which was held in Birmingham on 12 September 2022.  The presentation is attached as Appendix A.

As part of the presentation, the Electoral Services Manager highlighted that:

·       The Act introduced a number of new electoral processes including voter identification requirements, improving accessibility at polling stations for voters with disabilities, changes to absent voting, and changes to voting rights for overseas and EU citizens among other matters.

·       Secondary legislation was being developed and was due to be issued in the coming months.  This would clarify details of the new processes.

·       Some of the processes were to be implemented in time for the local elections in May 2023.

The Committee discussed the matter and in response to queries raised by Committee members, the Electoral Services Manager provided the following clarifications:

·       The Council was to receive Government funding for two years to help implement the new processes; it was unclear whether further funding would be available after those two years.  The increased workload for the Elections team and the shortage of polling station staff, particularly of experienced Presiding Officers, were concerns.

·       It was likely that the requirement to check voters’ identification would increase staffing and time pressures at polling stations.  Committee members raised various other concerns about the voter identification requirements.

·       There were specific implications of the voter identification requirements for women who cover their faces for religious or cultural reasons.  In light of this it was possible that each polling station may be required to have at least one female Presiding Officer.

·       The Voter Authority Certificate would be issued to electors as a hard copy.

·       Presently the Council implemented a number of measures to ensure polling stations were accessible to those with disabilities; the Act was due to enhance these measures.  A record was to be kept of any companions assisting voters with disabilities.

·       Those that vote by post would receive reminders when their postal vote nears the end of its three-year expiry period.

·       It was proposed that EU citizens would no longer be automatically entitled to register to vote.  Those with retained rights/settled status and those from countries with ‘reciprocal agreements’ would retain their right to vote.  There was likely to be no change to the voting rights of EEA citizens.

·       Poll cards were proposed to be made larger and sent in envelopes.  Committee members raised concerns about the environmental impact of using more paper.

·       It was important that the Council publicises the changes – the Committee raised concerns that there was not sufficient time for voters to be made aware of the changes prior to the May 2023 elections, particularly of those regarding voter identification.  It was confirmed that, once details had been received, the Council would raise awareness of the changes through a range of channels of communication.  Committee members suggested that councillors should engage with their ward residents on the matter.  It was noted that there would be a national publicity campaign but the Government would not be providing funds for local publicity.

·       The Government had not yet finalised the policy guidance so it was possible that certain details could change.  Once received, the finalised guidance would be presented to the Governance Committee for its information.