Key Facts

• Clause 30 addresses circumstances under which declarations of local connection cease to have effect.
• Amendments 8, 9, 19, and 20 are technical adjustments that maintain the Secretary of State's power to make regulations under section 29(8) of the Representation of the People Act 1983.
• Clause 31 ensures electoral registration officers are senior officials within their authority.
• Anonymous registration periods are extended from one year to three years.
• The pre-election application deadline is set at 5 pm, 12 working days before a poll.
• Clause 34 repeals unique documentary evidence requirements for late registrations in Northern Ireland.
• Electors will no longer be automatically placed on the open register.
• Individuals under 16 registering as an attainer are automatically excluded from the open register.
• The change strengthens personal data protections and supports a modernised approach to voter registration.
• Clause 38 requires local authorities to provide officer support for elections.
• Clause 39 mandates that returning officers hold senior positions within their authority.
• Clause 40 changes nomination submission times and objection deadlines to allow more preparation time.
• Clause 41 introduces identity verification requirements for candidates standing in UK parliamentary elections.
• Clause 42 mirrors ID verification requirements for local elections in Northern Ireland.
• There are currently higher barriers for voting than standing in an election.
• Proof of home address is required for candidates.
• Voters show ID once at the ballot box, while candidates are subject to scrutiny throughout their candidacy.
• The Electoral Commission will prepare and publish safety guidance within 6 months.
• Guidance includes identifying, recording, and reporting threats, abuse, and intimidation.
• Guidance covers physical and online security measures.
• Returning officers must provide each validly nominated candidate with a copy of the guidance.
• Clause 45 seeks to ensure candidates receive appropriate security briefings from police.
• Completion of an optional form will allow candidates to provide contact details to returning officers.
• Updated candidate security guidance was sent to returning officers and political parties in January for distribution to candidates ahead of the May 2026 elections.
• Clause 45 ensures consistent security briefings across the UK.
• Two local election candidates in Fareham have submitted nomination forms recently.
• Operation Bridger covers Members of Parliament during elections.
• Amendment 10 and 30 propose conditions for payment or cash withdrawal cards to serve as voter identification.
• Government amendments 11 to 13 are being considered alongside new clause 19 which aims to repeal voter ID requirements introduced in the Elections Act 2022.
• Clause 46 removes the requirement for polling station staff to call out voters' names and numbers, aligning Northern Ireland practices with Great Britain.
• Between 2% and 4% of electors report not owning a currently accepted form of ID.
• Thousands of electors have been turned away from polling stations due to the current voter ID policy.
• Allowing UK-authorised bank cards as voter ID is estimated to bring the number of electors without an accepted ID under 1%.
• The Elections Act 2022 provides for a special form of identification for voting which is free of charge.
• In the 2024 general election, only 0.08% of those who attempted to vote were unable to do so due to voter ID requirements.
• Public confidence in the integrity of elections has increased since 2019.
• Bank cards without photographs are considered insufficient for voter ID.
• Pre-paid bank cards may pose a risk of electoral fraud.
• Northern Ireland has required paper ID since 1985 and photographic ID since 2003.
• Labour party mandates two forms of ID for member registration.
• New clause 19 aims to repeal photo ID requirements in the Elections Act 2022.
• Three convictions in six years across all elections.
• Experts expressed concerns about using bank cards as voter IDs during evidence sessions.
• Different forms of names on bank cards can create confusion for polling station staff.
• Amendment 30 would restrict eligibility for bank cards issued after formal credit checks.
• New clause 19 seeks to abolish the legal requirement of showing photo ID when voting in person.
• Only 10 people were convicted for personation before voter ID legislation was introduced between 2019 and 2023.
• The scheme saw 16,000 voters turned away according to evidence from the Electoral Reform Society.
• 50,000 voters were turned away at the last election with 34,000 returning later to vote.
• Almost 2 million people did not have the right ID to vote in 2024.
• Only 33 out of over 58 million votes in 2019 elections related to personation fraud at polling stations.
• Voter ID has a chilling effect on turnout, particularly impacting disabled, unemployed people, and certain demographics.
• The Electoral Reform Society points out that the impact of voter ID requirements is not currently being monitored at local elections.
• Amendment 30 would exclude many basic or starter accounts and disproportionately affect newly enfranchised young voters.
• The Electoral Reform Society supported allowing IDs like bank cards to help eligible voters cast their vote easily.
• The Government is making changes to improve the voter ID policy by allowing a wider range of documents, including armed forces veteran cards.