Commons Sense

House of Commons · General Debate

Electoral Commission Committee

22 July 2021 · 2 other contributors

Opened by Alistair Carmichael Lib Dem Orkney and Shetland

Democracy & Elections

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Alistair Carmichael raised concerns about electoral commission committee in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.

Key points

  • Carmichael questioned the adequacy of data on electoral fraud supporting government proposals for voter ID.
  • Matheson acknowledged low levels of proven fraud but highlighted concerns about polling station vulnerabilities without identity checks.
  • Matheson noted that pilots in 2018 and 2019 showed no significant impact on turnout but stressed the need for more data for a national poll.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Alistair Carmichael Lib Dem Orkney and Shetland

Carmichael questioned the adequacy of data on electoral fraud used to support government proposals for voter ID, noting that while levels of proven fraud are low, the commission should conduct a more robust data gathering exercise before advocating for changes in voter identification.

Other contributors (2)
  • Alistair Carmichael Lib Dem Orkney and Shetland

    Carmichael raised concerns about the adequacy of data on electoral fraud used to support the introduction of voter ID laws, questioning the necessity given low levels of proven fraud. He urged for a more substantial data gathering exercise before any changes are made.

  • Andrew Gwynne Ind Gorton and Denton

    Gwynne inquired about the potential effects of proposed voter ID laws on electoral participation, highlighting concerns that mandatory voter ID could suppress turnout. He asked for more information on what the Electoral Commission is doing to increase participation.

Government Response

Chris Matheson

Matheson acknowledged low levels of proven fraud but highlighted the Electoral Commission's concern about voting at polling stations remaining vulnerable to personation without identity checks. He also noted that while pilots in 2018 and 2019 showed no significant impact on turnout, more data is needed for a national poll. He emphasised that any ID requirements should be secure, accessible, and realistically deliverable.

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