Review of the 2024 general election

Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 3 Dec 2024 Closed: 11 Feb 2026 Parliament page
Following the publication of the Electoral Commission report on the general election 2024 , the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee are considering the issue of the administration, process and conduct of the 2024 general election and how these could be improved for future elections. Read the call for evidence … Read more
20 Recommendations
49 Conclusions
1 Report
3 Oral sessions
3 Events
Activity timeline 8 events
16 Oct
2025
Report published
22 Jul
2025
Report published
18 Mar
2025
Oral evidence
18 Mar
2025
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 5, Palace of Westminster
21 Jan
2025
Oral evidence
21 Jan
2025
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 15, Palace of Westminster
7 Jan
2025
Oral evidence
7 Jan
2025
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 16, Palace of Westminster
Oral evidence sessions 3 sessions
18 Mar 2025
View on parliament.uk
Rushanara Ali MP · Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Stuart Ison · Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
21 Jan 2025
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David Gold · Royal Mail Laura Lock · Association of Electoral Administrators Peter Stanyon · Association of Electoral Administrators Ricky McAulay · Royal Mail
7 Jan 2025
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Jackie Killeen · Electoral Commission John Pullinger CB · Electoral Commission Vijay Rangarajan · Electoral Commission
Title HC No. Published Items Response
2nd Report – Review of the 2024 general election HC 487 22 Jul 2025 69 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
9 results
Clear
1 Conclusion Deferred
2nd Report – Review of the 2024 ge…
2024 general election deemed well-run due to dedicated electoral administration efforts
We agree that the 2024 general election was well run. This was due to the hard work, dedication, and often the personal sacrifice of the people running it. The electoral administrators, the civil servants and the Electoral Commission worked hard … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees on the importance of clear assessments but deflects responsibility for establishing criteria for assessing election effectiveness to the Electoral Commission, stating it will consider proposals from them. It also vaguely commits to exploring ways to improve democratic engagement.
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3 Conclusion Deferred
2nd Report – Review of the 2024 ge…
Current election assessment criteria lack rigor, requiring more objective measures
While the Electoral Commission have rightly reported that each general election on which they have reported was well run, there have also been repeated concerns raised. While we do not doubt the Electoral Commission’s overall assessment of this or previous … Read more
Government Response
The government rejects producing an annual readiness report, stating that planning and contingency for elections are the responsibility of independent Returning Officers and the Electoral Commission. It commits to introducing legislation to ensure senior officials hold the Returning Officer role and to continue working with stakeholders to support election readiness.
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4 Recommendation Deferred
2nd Report – Review of the 2024 ge…
Establish clear, objective criteria and metrics for assessing future election effectiveness
There need to be clear criteria and, where appropriate, metrics, for assessing and judging how effectively an election has been run. The Electoral Commission should establish such criteria in consultation with Government and other stakeholders. This should be in place … Read more
Government Response
The government deflects the core recommendation on establishing clear criteria for assessing election effectiveness, instead stating that the process of conducting counts is a matter for independent Returning Officers. It then shifts to discussing its plans for improving voter registration and reducing the burden of duplicate applications.
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7 Conclusion Deferred
2nd Report – Review of the 2024 ge…
Overhaul political education in England urgently, ahead of the next general election
We welcome consideration of political education as part of the Department for Education curriculum review. But what is needed is a complete overhaul of political education in the UK, particularly within England. The Government has committed in its manifesto to … Read more
Government Response
The government deflects this recommendation on political education by discussing its commitment to ensuring accessible voting for disabled electors and improving awareness of available support, and also briefly mentioning exploring the use of existing data. It does not address political education.
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8 Conclusion Deferred
2nd Report – Review of the 2024 ge…
New political education curriculum provides opportunity to foster public engagement
The development of a new school curriculum for political education is an opportunity to engage the public in order to create the wider environment and culture for political education in schools to be successful. (Recommendation, Paragraph 36)
Government Response
The government deflects this recommendation on political education by focusing on its commitments and ongoing work related to Voter Identification policy, including monitoring its impact and exploring digital ID. It does not address political education.
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9 Conclusion Deferred
2nd Report – Review of the 2024 ge…
Importance of politicians engaging with young people in schools recognised
We note the message about the importance of politicians engaging with young people in schools, and we support continued efforts to enable MPs and Parliament more widely in this work. (Recommendation, Paragraph 37) State of electoral law and systems for … Read more
Government Response
The government deflects this recommendation on politician engagement with young people in schools by detailing its commitment of £31 million to improve security for MPs and elected officials, address online harms, and protect democracy from intimidation and harassment.
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22 Conclusion Deferred
2nd Report – Review of the 2024 ge…
Develop guidance and plans to mitigate difficulties from awkwardly timed general elections.
Given this we hope that the Electoral Commission and others may be able to learn lessons from the July General Election and produce guidance and plans so that some of the difficulties experienced at this election might be mitigated against … Read more
Government Response
The government redirected the committee's hope for the Electoral Commission to learn lessons from the July General Election and produce guidance, by stating that the Electoral Commission is responsible for providing such guidance and support.
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24 Conclusion Deferred
2nd Report – Review of the 2024 ge…
Lack of uniform vote counting process threatens trust in the electoral system.
While we are pleased that the administrative errors made at elections in 2024 did not bring into doubt the election results, such mistakes do threaten to diminish trust in our electoral system. We are concerned that there is no 67 … Read more
Government Response
The government redirected the concern about the lack of a uniform vote counting process, stating that the count is a matter for statutorily independent Returning Officers, not the government, and highlighted the Electoral Commission's role in providing guidance.
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36 Conclusion Deferred
2nd Report – Review of the 2024 ge…
Prioritise ballot pack printing with backup arrangements and public notification system for delays
We are concerned that the number of print suppliers is decreasing, which increases the possibility that the printing of ballot packs could be a point of failure. Arrangements should be put in place to ensure that the printing of ballot … Read more
Government Response
The government notes the recommendation for a resilience plan for supplier failure but states that ensuring supply contracts and contingencies is a matter for statutorily independent Returning Officers. It also mentions future legislative changes will support electors and administrators, including the ability to use different voting mechanisms if issues arise.
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Government Response AI assessment · 69 of 20 classified
Accepted 13
Accepted in Part 8
Acknowledged 12
Deferred 9
Not Addressed 9
Rejected 18
Total 20 recs + 49 conclusions