Agenda item

The Committee received a report which provided an update on the Elections Act 2022, with a particular focus on the measures due to come into force ahead of the 4^th May 2023 polls.

The Electoral Services Manager summarised the new measures that would apply to UK Parliamentary elections in Great Britain, PCC elections in England and Wales, and English local government polls, as detailed in paragraph 6 of the report.

It was reported that the biggest change, to be introduced from May 2023, was the new requirement for voters to show photo ID at polling stations before a ballot paper could be issued.  The forms of approved photographic identification, such as a passport or driving licence, were listed in Appendix A to the report.  It was noted that the documentation did not have to be in date, e.g. an expired passport could be used by a voter, as long as the photograph still remained a good enough likeness from which to identify the elector.  For electors in Great Britain who did not have an accepted form of photo ID, Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) would be required to provide an electoral identity document, called a Voter Authority Certificate, or Anonymous Electors Document to eligible electors who applied for one.  It was noted that although there were no elections in Doncaster next year, it was expected that there would be demand for these new Certificates from electors as soon as the Electoral Commission’s public awareness campaign on the new requirement commenced in January 2023.

The full implications of all the new requirements in the Elections Act were still to be determined, as details were still coming in, including the extent of any New Burdens Funding to be provided by central government to local authorities to cover the increased costs resulting from implementing the new measures in the Act.

In terms of arrangements in polling stations, it was noted that there would need to be a private area or booth available for those electors who wore face coverings for religious purposes or for anonymous electors, so that they could confirm their identities to the Presiding Officers in private.

Discussion followed, during which Members made comments/observations and asked questions on a number of issues including the following:-

·    Concern was expressed that the requirement for photo ID would discourage some electors from voting, and also disenfranchise the elderly, who could potentially find it difficult to obtain photographic ID, including those living in care homes.  With regard to care homes, the Electoral Services Manager explained that it was intended that the Electoral Services team would visit the homes to explain the new procedures to the residents and staff, and to ascertain if residents had photographic ID or not.  For other elderly electors needing assistance, the expectation was that, where possible, they would come to the Civic Office where staff would take their photograph and upload it with their application on the ERO portal, if they were unable to do it themselves.  The Electoral Services Manager pointed out that there were various options to consider in terms of assisting electors, such as possibly holding events out in communities, where each ward would be visited and electors given the opportunity to have their photograph taken by staff so that they did not have to travel to the Civic Office.  The Electoral Services Manager added that she expected examples of best practice to become apparent throughout 2023 as other local authorities started to hold elections and operate under the new legislation.

·    It was confirmed that the Voter Authority Certificates would be issued free of charge to electors, and that there were no plans nationally at present to introduce digital voter IDs.

·    Regarding public awareness of the new requirements, the Electoral Services Manager outlined the various ways in which the changes would be communicated to electors.  It was noted that, in addition to the Electoral Commission’s advertising campaign, the canvassing letter next year would make reference to the new requirements, and poll cards would include details of the approved forms of ID which electors could use.  It was also hoped that it might be possible to ‘piggy back’ on other Council mailshots and communications to residents, such as Council Tax bills.  The Electoral Services Manager stressed, however, that funding would not be provided by the government for sending any additional communications out to electors.

·    In reply to a question, the Electoral Services Manager stated that she believed the Voter Authority Certificates would be valid for 10 years, although as they were going to be made of paper, it was unlikely that they would last that long.  There was also provision for temporary certificates to be issued, and these would be valid only for the relevant polling day (not multiple elections).

·    With regard to the scrapping of the ‘fifteen year rule’ to allow all British citizens living overseas to vote in UK Parliamentary elections, regardless of when they left the UK (expected from July 2023), the Electoral Services Manager explained that it was very difficult to predict numbers of those who may come forward and apply to vote when this rule change was implemented.  She pointed out, however, that she had already received some enquiries from British citizens living abroad.  It was noted that the process for checking electors’ applications could potentially be very time consuming, involving the use of national archives and local records and dependent on whether a full investigation would be required or if applications could be taken at face value, which was yet to be confirmed.

RESOLVED to note the contents of the report.