Annex 4: The Electoral Commission compared
with the Australian Electoral Commission
We looked at a number of
international comparators, none of which mirrored the UK's electoral
system or status of the Electoral Commission. We draw comparison
here with the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) because it
is responsible for the electoral process itself: quite unlike
the UK.
The AEC, like the Electoral
Commission, has a key objective to make voting as easy and accessible
as possible, albeit that in Australia this is prompted by the
fact that voting is compulsory, whereas the issue in the UK stems
from concerns about falling levels of voter participation.
The AEC faces the challenge
that the electorate, while smaller than in the UK, is dispersed
over a much greater area. The Commission must also ensure that
voters are familiar with a range of electoral systems for federal,
state and local elections. Despite these complications, evidence
suggests that elections proceed smoothly and with a high level
of understanding by the electorate.
One contributory factor
is that AEC oversees elections, meaning that systems in Australia
are uniform. In contrast, UK elections are overseen at local
government level (and there are a number of other bodies involved),
and the processes and forms used may vary from authority to authority,
as well as the differences in voting systems. The Electoral Administration
Bill may address some of these concerns, by setting standards
for electoral administrators and allowing Electoral Registration
officers and Returning Officers to actively encourage participation
in elections and referendums.
Because there is a single
body responsible for all aspects of the conduct of elections nationwide
there is a very strong brand association with elections in Australia.
This is thought to contribute significantly to the effectiveness
of information and publicity campaigns. There is advertising
for each election as well as ongoing campaigns. AEC pre and post-tracking
research has demonstrated that the AEC was successful in informing
voters and also that AEC recognition and electoral awareness are
high.
As contact for most people
in the UK electoral process is with their local authority, it
seems unlikely that such a brand could be established by the Electoral
Commission. This underlines the importance of the Electoral Commission's
work to continue to improve relationships and contact with electoral
administrators at local authorities.
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