Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Levelling Up (): My Honourable
friend the Minister for Faith and Communities (Baroness Scott of
Brybrook) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement:
Today I have published the draft statutory instrument “The
Representation of the People (Postal and Proxy Voting etc.)
(Amendment) Regulations 2023” with an accompanying explanatory
memorandum. An impact assessment has been drafted and will be
available when a draft of the statutory instrument is laid.
The changes set out in these regulations deliver on our manifesto
commitment to protect the integrity of our democracy, as
legislated for by Parliament through the Elections Act 2022. It
is paramount that we preserve trust in our electoral processes
and ensure elections remain secure well into the future. The
Elections Act stemmed from recommendations made by (then) Sir
and his review into tackling
electoral fraud. Voter identification has already been commenced;
these regulations now commence provisions relating to postal and
proxy voting.
Under these regulations, we are introducing appropriate
safeguards to reduce the opportunity for individuals to exploit
the absent voting process and steal votes. The new measures limit
the total number of electors for whom a person may act as a proxy
to four, of which no more than two can be for ‘domestic’ electors
for all constituencies or electoral areas.
To further strengthen the security of the ballot, an identity
check will be introduced for all applications for an absent vote.
This change will apply to applications made on paper and online
and bring the absent vote application process in line with the
Individual Electoral Registration ‘Register to Vote’ process.
This change accompanies a new requirement to reapply for a postal
vote at least every three years, replacing the current five-year
signature and date of birth refresh. Transitional processes will
be in place for electors with existing postal or proxy vote
arrangements.
These regulations will also support the delivery of a new digital
service which will enable electors to apply for a postal or proxy
arrangement online. The Government anticipates that an online
service will alleviate some of the pre-existing challenges for
electors and electoral administrators, by reducing the need to
rely on manual processes. The online service is currently being
built and will be tested to ensure it is robust and accessible
for electors.
Although this statutory instrument does not directly relate to
Brexit, it does make amendments to 2001 regulations which were
made in part under the European Communities Act. In that light,
the statutory instrument is published in accordance with the
procedure required by Schedule 8 to the European Union
(Withdrawal) Act 2018 and agreed with Parliament. The statutory
instrument is being published in draft at least 28 days before
being laid in draft to be considered under the affirmative
procedure in Parliament.
These Regulations will apply to UK Parliamentary elections and
other reserved elections, referendums and recall petitions. Local
elections in Scotland, and local elections in Wales apart from
Police and Crime Commissioner elections, are devolved, and thus
not in scope of these measures.
