Written evidence submitted by AEA Southern
Branch (PVSCB 27)
SUMMARY
— As Electoral Administrators we welcome
the proposal for the electorate to be asked for their view on
the current system of voting at parliamentary elections. —
We note that there is not a formal consultation on this with a
series of questions on specific issues but rather just a general
invitation to comment. — We consider that the proposed referendum
should NOT be held on the same day as local elections on 5 May
2011, but rather that it should be held on a separate day.
— We are very concerned to ensure that,
if the proposed referendum is held on the same day as the local
elections, any scheduled parish council elections are NOT postponed.
— The following specific comments are offered:
1. Timing
1.1 In order to allow authorities adequate
time to plan for and allocate resources, and to ensure optimum
participation of the electorate, the minimum lead-in time for
the referendum should be 10 weeks.
2. The Wording of the Question
2.1 It is imperative that the question meets
"Plain English"/crystal mark standards and that it is
understandable to all voters. The wording must be rigorously tested
by the Electoral Commission to ensure that it is clear. We consider
the proposed wording contained in the draft regulations too long
and complicated.
2.2 We consider that the question on the ballot
paper should be in English only. This could be supported by literature
in other languages, depending on local circumstances.
2.3 We believe that the AV system will not
be understood by many electors, so we consider it essential that
the Electoral Commission take the lead in a publicity campaign
to provide clear and neutral explanations on the choice being
put to them at the referendum. We support the formal AEA national
response on this point, particularly with regard to ensuring that
jargon is not used. We also support the need identified by the
AEA for clear and neutral explanations of the two voting systems
to be available to counting officers, electoral services staff
and polling station staff to ensure consistency of information
to voters.
2.4 The Bill is extremely detailed with
proposed amendments to existing legislation set out. We have not
had sufficient opportunity to examine these in detail. We consider
that the AEA should be given adequate opportunity to review the
suggested amendments to the legislation to ensure that they are
workable. For example, we consider that the direction to voters
in Schedule 6, Part 1—Amendment to the Parliamentary Election
Rules, 12(2), should be revised to simplify it.
3. The Franchise
3.1 We support the recommendation that the
franchise is the same as for Parliamentary elections. We do not
understand why it is suggested that members of the House of Lords
should be entitled to participate in the referendum. They are
not entitled to vote in Parliamentary elections so we fail to
see why they should be entitled to participate in a referendum
on voting systems for the parliamentary elections.
4. The Regulation of Campaigns
4.1 There should be national direction to promote
public awareness, but we consider, very strongly, that Regional
Counting Officers should not be responsible for this promotion.
Responsibility should vest with a national body such as the Electoral
Commission.
5. The administration of the referendum
5.1 We fully support the referendum being administered
on local authority boundaries, with the results being collated
on a regional basis, in a similar manner to the elections for
members of the European Parliament.
5.2 We support the appointment of and proposed
responsibilities for Regional Counting Officers, based on the
system for Regional Returning Officers for European Parliamentary
elections. These RROs already have appropriate mechanisms and
networks in place.
5.3 With regard to the timing of the count
of the referendum results, we are of the view that there will
be different expectations surrounding the availability of the
results when compared to elections for members of parliament or
local authorities. There is pressure to count votes electing members
as soon as possible following the close of poll for a variety
of reasons, including a desire to know the political balance on
the various bodies being elected, but this should not be the case
for the referendum. Therefore we consider that Counting Officers
should have flexibility to determine the time of the counts to
accommodate other elections on the same day, and to ensure they
are carried out in a cost-effective manner.
6. Combination with other elections
6.1 As electoral administrators we would
prefer the referendum to be held on a separate day, and not combined
with the local elections in May 2011.
6.2 If the referendum is combined with local
elections on 5 May 2011, we strongly recommend that Parish Council
elections are NOT postponed.
6 September 2010
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