Supplementary memorandum by the Electoral
Commission (POS 32(a))
ELECTORAL PILOTS
AT THE
JUNE 2004 ELECTIONS
When we met earlier this week with you and other
ministers, concern was expressed that the Commission's position
on the pilot regions was being misinterpreted and that a clear
statement from us would help to provide clarity.
In September 2003 we were directed by Government
to make recommendations as to which regions were most suitable
to undertake all-postal voting and which of these was most suitable
to include an e-enabled element in the pilots. We were asked to
take into account a number of criteria to which the Commission
added a range of other factors, in particular the capacity and
willingness of the Regional Returning Officer and Local Returning
Officers.
In our report published in December we concluded
that there were two regions—North East and East Midlands—which
best met the criteria and were suitable for piloting all postal
voting. We named a further four regions that were potentially
suitable as pilots. These were, in order of suitability, Scotland,
Yorkshire and the Humber, North West and West Midlands. We felt
unable to make a positive recommendation in respect of those regions,
having assessed their suitability against the guidelines we had
applied The remaining four regions (excluding London and Northern
Ireland who were not part of this exercise) we felt were unsuitable
to run all postal pilots.
The direction did not require or ask the Commission
to express a view on the number of regions in which it would be
appropriate to run pilots, only to examine the suitability of
each region for pilot status. The Commission did not in its report
express a view on how many pilot regions should be nominated.
The guidance we were given by Government indicated
that you wanted to run with three pilot regions and this view
was re-inforced by the statement issued in response to our report
which accepted the two regions we regarded as most suitable but
added that you would look for a third from those who were potentially
suitable.
We always recognised that it was open to Government
to have discussions with those regions falling into the "potential"
category to see whether the reasons we had identified for not
making a positive recommendation could be satisfactorily resolved.
We understand those discussions took place, although the Commission
was not involved in them
However, it does not follow that the Commission
would be unconcerned about the number of pilot regions. As I have
mentioned, we expected the Government to nominate three regions
and were surprised to learn that the Bill was to be amended to
name four regions.
You are aware of our view that the rollout of
all postal elections needs to be underpinned by a more robust
statutory framework. We have recognised at the same time that
pilots provide the means by which we can test and learn from new
ways of voting and that of necessity they have to be conducted
without the full range of new measures we would wish to see, in
particular individual registration. To date piloting has been
on a limited scale, but you are aware of our view that so far
as all-postal elections are concerned most of the lessons have
been learned. Nonetheless, we welcome their use on a regional
basis in order to test issues of scalability. But in our view
pilots that cover over a third of the English electorate in June
go further than we think necessary in order to address those issues.
especially in the absence of the underlying legislative change
we consider necessary. There is also in our view increased risk,
with combined elections and in some cases new boundaries, in running
on such a large scale and we are not persuaded that the risk is
outweighed by what we might learn from four regional pilots as
opposed to two.
It is of course for Parliament to decide the
number of all postal regions. But we urge that this matter is
resolved as quickly as possible. Preparation time is already limited
and further delays will add to the uncertainty and risks. I should
perhaps end by saying that whatever the decision of Parliament
I have no doubt that Regional Returning Officers for the pilot
areas will work to ensure that there are successful elections
in June. The Commission will continue to work with them to provide
what assistance we can.
I am putting this letter in the public domain
by publishing it on our website
Sam Younger
Chairman
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