Key Facts

• Fraser Campbell is a barrister at Blackstone Chambers.
• Professor David Howarth was an electoral commissioner until 2018.
• The expansion of the definition of 'companion' in legislation could support more elderly and disabled voters.
• The Electoral Commission operates under an estimate that does not go through the Government.
• Accountability on spending is to the Speaker’s Committee, which currently has a Government majority.
• Adding another Government MP to the committee would further imbalance its composition.
• Clause 23 grants powers to exclude organisations from becoming registered third parties.
• The provision has not been justified in pre-legislative material.
• There is a need for provisions allowing electoral pacts and alliances.
• Virginia McVea is the chief electoral officer for Northern Ireland.
• Ailsa Irvine is the director of electoral administration and guidance at the Electoral Commission.
• Peter Stanyon is the chief executive of the Association of Electoral Administrators.
• In Northern Ireland, there are approximately 1,500 to 1,600 applications per month during election periods with nearly two decades of ID card provision.
• The expectation is that a large number of cards will need to be issued ahead of the next national electoral event such as a general election when pressures in electoral offices are at their peak.
• Local authorities face significant administrative challenges including late registration spikes and high demand for voter IDs, especially during elections.
• Turnout data for the first general election after photographic identification was introduced in Northern Ireland is not retained by the Electoral Office.
• In June 2017, 24 tendered ballots were issued across all constituencies in Northern Ireland; there were 18 in 2019.
• Some parties raise concerns about fraud but evidence of systemic fraud is lacking.
• The initial cost of card production in Northern Ireland was over £100,000 in 2004.
• The current cost per card is just over £2 including postage.
• In January 2019, there were 517 and then 537 applications for ID cards.
• Northern Ireland's voter ID process took about 20 years to become largely accepted.
• Electoral fraud, particularly personation offences, may not be fully reported due to lack of awareness among non-attending voters.
• Use of photographic ID is recommended by various organisations including the Association of Electoral Administrators, SOLACE, National Police Chiefs Council and international bodies like OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights.
• Northern Ireland experiences approximately 1,500 card applications a month during election periods.
• Requiring digital campaign materials to include an imprint has been called for by the Electoral Commission for years.
• Imprints should provide clarity on who is paying for campaign information and help demonstrate where a campaigner is based.
• There are concerns about unregistered campaigners spending significant amounts of money without being required to include imprints.
• During an election period, there are around 70 additional staff to process electoral ID cards quickly.
• Applications can be done in person with no photo ID required; identity is verified through data sets such as date of birth and national insurance number.
• Overseas elector management is one of the most resource-intensive tasks for election teams.
• Most registration events are driven by elections, leading to sudden spikes in work.
• The proposal to extend registration periods without renewal is welcome but will create additional work for administrators.
• Postal votes for overseas voters pose challenges due to longer delivery times.
• The electoral timetable is currently set at 25 working days.
• Registration officers rely on trust when checking local connections due to lack of national register access.
• Postal votes handed in on election day can number up to 4,000 at parliamentary elections.
• Local authorities may face additional work if more people register as overseas electors due to the removal of time limits.
• Birmingham has approximately 500 polling stations where privacy screens will be required for voters with cultural or religious reasons requiring headscarves.
• Rob Connelly suggests that providing female polling clerks at every station could cause staffing issues given current recruitment and retention challenges.
• Rob Connelly estimates the need for significant additional staffing across local authorities.
• Concerns are expressed about disenfranchising students, older people, those with disabilities, and individuals from black, Asian, or minority ethnic backgrounds.
• The Electoral Commission will play a key role in national campaigns to inform communities about voter ID requirements.
• Rob Connelly discusses historical issues related to electoral fraud in Birmingham, particularly in the Bangladeshi community.
• The Labour party has signed undertakings before every election since 2004 stating that its candidates and activists will not interfere with postal votes.
• West Midlands police have taken allegations of electoral fraud seriously since 2004.
• Dr Kate Dommett is a senior lecturer at the University of Sheffield.
• The examination focuses on digital campaigning and transparency requirements for imprints.
• There are concerns about the clarity and implementation of current proposals.
• Dr Dommett's research focuses on public perceptions and electoral oversight.
• The UK is leading the way in terms of transparency with digital imprints.
• Section 88 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 allows for a list of entities to register as third-party campaigners.
• Over 80% of electoral agents are volunteers.
• The tier for registration in England is out of step with other UK regions.
• There is a real danger of third-party expenditure from outside the United Kingdom.
• The Committee will meet again at 11.30 am to take oral evidence.
• Further consideration is adjourned until Thursday 16 September at half-past Eleven o'clock.