Fifth Report - The Elections Bill

The Government stated its commitment to working constructively and coordinating with devolved administrations, highlighting existing regular meetings and official engagement. It welcomed the Scottish and Welsh Governments' consideration of comparable legislation and committed to close collaboration on future proposals.

The Government clarified that expired documents remain valid if the photo is a good likeness, and that Voter Cards will not have an expiry date except for temporary ones. The Bill was amended to give EROs flexibility for issuing temporary Voter Cards valid for a single poll.

The government states it has given due regard to its Public Sector Equality Duty, conducted an impact assessment, and designed its voter identification policy with accessibility in mind, including a wide range of accepted IDs and free Voter Cards, to mitigate the risks raised by the committee.

The government accepts the recommendation, committing to carry out thorough research to assess the implementation and impacts of the voter identification policy, stating it will not be limited solely to mandated data collection.

The government accepted the recommendation, stating that Electoral Registration Officers will be required to notify electors of their postal vote expiry date and how to reapply, with similar provisions intended for new applicants via regulations.

The government agrees on the importance of parliamentary scrutiny and the Electoral Commission's independence, stating that existing ministerial statements and the Elections Bill's section 4B(2) already ensure the Commission considers the Strategy and Policy Statement while maintaining operational independence.

The government explains that the consultation mechanism for the Strategy and Policy Statement is already detailed in sections 4C, 4D, and 4E of PPERA, specifying consultees, review frequency, and revision procedures, thereby providing the requested clarification.

The Government committed to ensuring that parliamentary time is made available for debates in both Houses of Parliament to scrutinise the Strategy and Policy Statement under the affirmative resolution procedure.

The Government committed to monitoring the impact of digital imprints and conducting a formal evaluation as part of the wider Bill evaluation process. It also noted existing regulation-making powers to adapt the regime to technological changes.