Key Facts

• The Fixed-term Parliaments Act has been abolished.
• A postal system denies thousands of overseas electors the ability to vote in places with no reliable postal service, such as Indonesia and parts of Africa.
• British citizens abroad are excluded from voting due to time constraints between proroguing Parliament and election day.
• Electoral law regarding donations to political parties is set out in the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000.
• Membership with Conservatives Abroad costs £25 per year.
• The Liberal Democrat party has campaigned for the abolition of the 15-year rule since at least 2017.
• Technical fault nearly resolved but not completely.
• Anne Wafer from Labour International is introduced as the communications officer with about 3,000 members worldwide.
• Anne Wafer lives in Slovakia and is secretary of the central and east European branch.
• Anne Wafer left the UK in 1978 and has been abroad for more than 15 years.
• Harry Shindler, a centenarian resident of Italy, campaigns for extended voting rights.
• The Elections Bill extends parliamentary election voting rights but does not mention referenda.
• Bureaucracy involved in registration could be simplified.
• The Bill includes measures for proving last residence or registration to maintain voting rights.
• Anne Wafer expressed concerns about electoral fraud and disenfranchisement due to lack of records going back more than 15 years.
• Climate change, reversing austerity cuts, proportional representation, education system changes (opposing tuition fees), and green jobs are policy interests for British citizens living abroad.
• Christina Rees introduces Maurice Mcleod, chief executive of Race on the Agenda.
• Maurice discusses concerns about a free local voter card for those without ID.
• Data shows that while 76% of white people hold relevant photo ID, only 47% of black people do.
• There are 11 million Britons who hold no form of photo identification.
• Voter ID requirements are seen as a measure to tackle non-existent significant voter fraud.
• Concerns exist about the impact of voter ID on turnout, especially among demographic groups less likely to have required identification.
• The MP notes that online voting is not addressed in the Bill.
• Christina Rees mentions the need for automatic voter registration similar to processes for national insurance numbers or citizenship.
• Civic education and awareness raising are highlighted as essential for increasing turnout in minority communities.
• Postal voting is noted to offer greater flexibility, allowing people to vote at any time within a longer window.
• Maurice Mcleod addresses concerns about voter ID measures affecting Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities.
• There is a concern that black Caribbean people might be disproportionately impacted by such measures due to lower ID ownership rates.
• Mcleod suggests local authorities should actively seek out individuals without photo ID and assist them in obtaining it.
• 48% of black people have photo ID according to Maurice Mcleod's initial testimony.
• Independent research by IFF in March found that 99% of BAME communities have relevant photo ID.
• The research covered various protected characteristics including race, disability, and age.
• The Committee session was concluded at the end of questioning time.
• Further consideration will be adjourned until 2 pm that afternoon.
• Ordered by David Rutley.