Agenda item

Motion Submitted by Councillor Hardy - Elections Bill

Minutes:

It was moved by Councillor Hardy, seconded by Councillor Moncur:

 

That:

 

Sefton Council recognises the importance of ensuring that elections are fair and accessible for all voters.

 

Sefton Council notes that the Elections Bill is set to bring in major changes to national elections, including the introduction of compulsory photographic ID to vote.

 

Council believes that this change will act a barrier to people voting and increase inequality in the electoral process.

 

Council notes with concern that currently 3.5 million people in the UK do not have any form of expensive photographic ID.

 

Council notes that these changes are estimated to cost the taxpayer £180 million and will create unnecessary bureaucracy to Councils.

 

Council believes that at a time when voter turnout is declining, we should be doing all we can to make it easier not harder for people to vote.

 

Sefton Council doesn’t want to see people being turned away at the ballot box because of these changes and resolves to support the #HandsOffOurVote campaign by:

 

(1)

writing to Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to highlight our opposition to these changes; and

 

(2)

writing to Sefton’s local MPs asking them to raise these concerns in Parliament.

 

An amendment was moved by Councillor Pugh, seconded by Councillor Evans that the Motion be amended by the addition of the following words:

 

“Sefton Council applauds the support shown for a fairer and more proportional voting system by Peter Dowd (Member of Parliament for Bootle)”

 

after the word "voters" and before the words "Sefton Council notes" in the first sentence of the Motion.

 

Following a debate on the amendment the Chief Legal and Democratic Officer officiated a vote and the Mayor declared that the amendment was lost by 51 votes to 6.

Following a debate on the Motion the Chief Legal and Democratic Officer officiated a vote and the Mayor declared that the Motion was carried by 53 votes to 4 and it was and it was:

RESOLVED: That

Sefton Council recognises the importance of ensuring that elections are fair and accessible for all voters.

 

Sefton Council notes that the Elections Bill is set to bring in major changes to national elections, including the introduction of compulsory photographic ID to vote.

 

Council believes that this change will act a barrier to people voting and increase inequality in the electoral process.

 

Council notes with concern that currently 3.5 million people in the UK do not have any form of expensive photographic ID.

 

Council notes that these changes are estimated to cost the taxpayer £180 million and will create unnecessary bureaucracy to Councils.

 

Council believes that at a time when voter turnout is declining, we should be doing all we can to make it easier not harder for people to vote.

 

Sefton Council doesn’t want to see people being turned away at the ballot box because of these changes and resolves to support the #HandsOffOurVote campaign by:

 

(1)

writing to Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to highlight our opposition to these changes; and

 

(2)

writing to Sefton’s local MPs asking them to raise these concerns in Parliament.

 

Supporting documents: