Issue - meetings

Report of the Assistant Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services (Strategic Support)

The Committee considered the report of the Assistant Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services (Strategic Support) that provided an update on the implications of the Elections Act 2022 on the conduct of future elections in Sefton.

The report indicated that on 28 April 2022, the Elections Act 2022 received Royal Assent and that the Act sought to:

·       require voters to show photo ID at polling stations before a ballot paper is issued

·       require Electoral Registration Officers (ERO) based in local authorities to issue free electoral identification documents – which was now called a 'Voter Authority Certificate' to eligible electors who applied for one

·       require postal voters to reapply for a postal vote every three years, replacing current rules of refreshing their signature every five years

·       restrict the handling of postal votes, including limiting the number of postal votes an individual could hand in at a polling station or council office

·       further limit the number of people someone may act as proxy for

·       extend accessibility to elections including requiring EROs to take all reasonable steps to provide support for those with a disability in polling stations

·       simplify and clarify the offence of undue influence

·       change the voting and candidacy arrangements for EU voters

·       allow all British citizens living overseas to vote in UK Parliamentary elections, regardless of when they left the UK

and that the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) was still developing the policy and secondary legislation, and at this time, it was expected that Secondary legislation would pass through Parliament around the 6 November 2022.

The report focussed on voter identification in polling stations and accessibility to elections requiring Returning Officers (RO) to provide support for those with a disability in polling stations as it was known that these issues would come into effect for May 2023 and with proposed funding to support such issues; but also provided information on:

·       New Burdens Funding

·       Communication about the new requirements

·       Polling day implications

·       Impacts for Elected Members

The report concluded that the Elections Act would present numerous challenges for the RO, ERO, Elections Team, the wider council, Elected Members, candidates and election agents; that challenges that may be faced in recruiting enough polling station staff especially, suitably qualified staff, would also need to be considered along with an appropriate rate of pay to recognize the increased responsibility; that it had long been the case that electoral services teams could continue to work in isolation due to the ever-growing scale and complexity of elections; and that the Elections Act further cemented the need to review our approach to elections to ensure all aspects of the Act were successfully implemented.

Appendix A attached to the report further detailed the New Burdens that would take effect after May 2023.

Members of the Committee asked questions/commented on the following issues:

·       How the new voter ID proposal will be publicised in Sefton’s communities, including the funding request to government for the provision of a household notification letter; and the Electoral Commission materials  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21