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
View on parliament.uk
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
18 results
Clear
2 Conclusion Rejected
2nd Report – Review of the 2024 ge…
Increasing pressures threaten future electoral system integrity despite 2024 election success
In line with previous elections, the fabric of our electoral administration system held together sufficiently at the 2024 general election to allow a well-run election to be delivered. However, as the Electoral Commission report sets out increasing demands and tight … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges calls for consolidation of electoral law but largely rejects major reform, citing extensive time and multi-parliamentary effort required. It highlights its existing ambitious agenda and ongoing Review of Electoral Registration and Conduct as current efforts to improve elections.
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10 Conclusion Rejected
2nd Report – Review of the 2024 ge…
Consensus on electoral law simplification not fully embraced by government
There is a clear consensus in our evidence around the necessity and benefits of simplification and consolidation of electoral law. This is not a new position and has been reiterated by the practitioners and experts of electoral law for some … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the calls for consolidation but rejects undertaking major reform now due to the extensive time and cross-Parliamentary effort required, prioritising its existing manifesto commitments and ongoing Review of Electoral Registration and Conduct, which specifically excluded consolidation.
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11 Recommendation Rejected
2nd Report – Review of the 2024 ge…
Require Government to clarify acceptance of electoral law simplification and consolidation
The Government should make clear whether it accepts in principle that UK elections law needs simplification and consolidation, and if it does not should set out its evidence for this position in full in its response to this report. (Recommendation, … Read more
Government Response
The government explains that while it understands calls for electoral law consolidation, it is not prioritizing this major reform due to the extensive time, resources, and multi-Parliamentary commitment required, focusing instead on current manifesto pledges and its ongoing Review of Electoral Registration and Conduct, which explicitly excluded consolidation.
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13 Conclusion Rejected
2nd Report – Review of the 2024 ge…
Government's delay in simplifying electoral law risks serious consequences
We are however concerned that the Government has not put in motion the work necessary to simplify and consolidate electoral law. It is clear to us that the conclusion of the Law Commissions’ report was correct, and that the UK … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the committee's concerns but rejects the immediate commencement of electoral law simplification and consolidation, explaining that such a major reform would be a multi-Parliamentary undertaking and not a current priority over its manifesto commitments and ongoing electoral review.
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14 Recommendation Rejected
2nd Report – Review of the 2024 ge…
Start simplification and consolidation of electoral law, committing to introducing legislation upon completion
The Government should start the process of simplification and consolidation of electoral law alongside the work being carried out to produce a Bill to implement its manifesto commitments and the outcome of the strategic review. In doing this it should … Read more
Government Response
The government rejects starting the process of electoral law simplification and consolidation, stating that such a major, multi-Parliamentary reform is not feasible alongside its current manifesto commitments and was explicitly out of scope for its ongoing Review of Electoral Registration and Conduct.
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16 Recommendation Rejected
2nd Report – Review of the 2024 ge…
Produce annual report assessing readiness for elections for Parliament and committee
We recommend that the Government produce an annual report assessing the readiness for elections, and that it provide this report to this committee, and lay it before Parliament. (Recommendation, Paragraph 70) 66
Government Response
The government rejected the recommendation to produce an annual report on election readiness, stating it would not be conducive or appropriate as planning and delivery falls within the autonomy of independent Returning Officers.
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18 Recommendation Rejected
2nd Report – Review of the 2024 ge…
Include resilience plan for supplier failure in annual election readiness report
We recommend that as part of the annual report on readiness for elections, the Government include a resilience plan in case of supplier failure. (Recommendation, Paragraph 71)
Government Response
The government rejected the recommendation for a resilience plan in case of supplier failure, as it had previously rejected the overarching recommendation to produce an annual readiness report which this plan would have been part of.
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20 Conclusion Rejected
2nd Report – Review of the 2024 ge…
Conduct a comprehensive Government review of election funding and administrator pay rates.
A review of the funding of elections should be carried out by the Government and published to coincide with the first report of readiness for elections. This review should look at how funding structures can be simplified and consider whether … Read more
Government Response
The government rejected the recommendation to carry out and publish a review of election funding, stating that remuneration for electoral administrators is a matter for local authorities, despite describing efforts to provide greater funding certainty and access to contingency funds.
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32 Conclusion Rejected
2nd Report – Review of the 2024 ge…
Replace two-batch postal ballot dispatch with rolling system and widely publish dates
Currently postal ballot packs are dispatched in two batches. This should be replaced with a system where, following the first dispatch, ballot packs are printed and dispatched on a rolling basis. The first and last dispatch dates should be widely … Read more
Government Response
The government rejects the recommendation for printing and dispatching ballot packs on a rolling basis, stating it is impractical with current system capabilities.
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34 Conclusion Rejected
2nd Report – Review of the 2024 ge…
Declining postal delivery capacity threatens future reliability of election mail system
There has been a decline in the UK and around the world in the number of letters being delivered, and thus in delivery capacity, and it appears this trend may continue. While the UK postal system is currently still able … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the committee's concerns but states it already works with Royal Mail on election preparedness and sees no need for further regulatory or government intervention, expressing confidence in Royal Mail's ability to handle election mail.
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35 Recommendation Rejected
2nd Report – Review of the 2024 ge…
Review Royal Mail's readiness to deliver postal votes in annual election report
As part of the annual election readiness report, recommended above, the readiness and preparedness of Royal Mail to deliver postal votes and campaign materials should be reviewed. (Recommendation, Paragraph 106)
Government Response
The government rejects the recommendation for an annual review of Royal Mail's preparedness, stating it already works closely with Royal Mail and that both the Electoral Commission and the Committee have concluded Royal Mail performed well, indicating no need for further regulatory intervention.
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38 Conclusion Rejected
2nd Report – Review of the 2024 ge…
Mandate next-day delivery for ballot packs and poll cards; record paid election mail times
Postal ballot packs must continue to be a next day delivery, and poll cards should also be delivered the next day. The freepost election mail should be delivered second class, so within 3 days of posting. We do not feel … Read more
Government Response
The government rejects next-day delivery for poll cards due to estimated £52 million additional cost and states printing ballot packs on a rolling basis is impractical. It does not address the recommendations for next-day postal ballot packs, second-class freepost election mail, or keeping records of paid-for election mail delivery times.
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39 Conclusion Rejected
2nd Report – Review of the 2024 ge…
Consider the continued utility of poll cards as part of the Government’s current review.
As part of the Government’s current review, we ask it to consider the continued utility of poll cards. (Recommendation, Paragraph 109)
Government Response
The government rejects the recommendation to consider the continued utility of poll cards, stating it has no plans to remove them as they are considered a vital communication tool.
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41 Recommendation Rejected
2nd Report – Review of the 2024 ge…
Explicitly mention the delivery of ballot packs, postal votes, and poll cards in universal service obligation.
We recommend that the delivery of ballot packs, postal votes and poll cards (subject to the consideration above) should be explicitly mentioned in the universal service obligation. (Recommendation, Paragraph 110)
Government Response
The government rejects the recommendation to explicitly mention election mail in the universal service obligation, explaining that Ofcom regulates the USO, and election mail services are business accounts not covered by it, thus no further regulatory or government intervention is considered necessary.
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44 Conclusion Rejected
2nd Report – Review of the 2024 ge…
Government dismisses alternative overseas voting methods despite their successful use in other countries.
Other countries make greater use of other means of voting for overseas voters in addition to a postal vote option. We are disappointed that the Government has ruled out considering the Electoral Commission’s recommendations for embassy and telephone voting for … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the committee's recommendations for overseas voting mechanisms but reiterates concerns regarding the significant logistical and administrative burdens of implementing embassy/consulate and telephone voting, effectively maintaining its stance against considering these options.
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45 Recommendation Rejected
2nd Report – Review of the 2024 ge…
Conduct six-month feasibility studies for embassy, online, digital, and telephone overseas voting options.
We recommend that the Government conduct feasibility studies to report within six months for the following alternatives for overseas voting: • Embassy and consulate voting • Online voting • Digitally receiving and returning ballot papers • Telephone voting (Recommendation, Paragraph … Read more
Government Response
The government notes the committee's recommendation for feasibility studies on alternative overseas voting methods but highlights significant logistical and administrative burdens for embassy/consulate and telephone voting, without committing to conducting the requested studies within six months or any specific timeframe.
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53 Conclusion Rejected
2nd Report – Review of the 2024 ge…
Government research on voter ID impacts fails to assess turnout or demographic effects.
When asked what criteria the Government would use to assess the effect of the voter ID policy on turnout, the Government told us that it had commissioned research from IFF Research. However, this research does not consider the impact of … Read more
Government Response
The government defends its approach to voter ID, citing its commissioned IFF Research, which it states looked into impacts on different demographics, implicitly rejecting the committee's critique of the research. It reiterates its commitment to improve accessibility by accepting bank cards as ID.
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68 Conclusion Rejected
2nd Report – Review of the 2024 ge…
Establish independent review of Electoral Commission's powers for fair elections and direct CPS referrals
We believe the Electoral Commission carries out a vital role as an independent regulator in the elections sphere, providing vital guidance and support to electoral administrators, political parties, individual candidates and the wider public. However, it is a regulator without … Read more
Government Response
The government rejects the call for an independent review of the Electoral Commission's powers, stating it has no plans for such a review. It notes existing capabilities for criminal referrals and outlines its own reform plans to increase the Electoral Commission's maximum fine to deter rule evasion.
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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