21 Jul 2008
The Electoral Commission has published performance standards for Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) in England, Wales and Scotland. The standards will apply to the work EROs across Great Britain undertake to register electors in their area.
Starting from this autumn’s annual canvass, EROs will report on a variety of aspects of their work and submit this information to the Electoral Commission. The Commission will then publish an assessment of EROs’ performance against these standards in the spring of 2009.
The 10 standards were developed after extensive consultation with local authorities and other stakeholders. They are designed to cover a wide range of performance issues for this vital public service function, including improving the accuracy and integrity of the register as well as public engagement and planning. The 10 standards are:
- Using information sources to verify entries on the register of electors and identify potential new electors
- Maintaining the property database
- House-to-house enquiries
- Maintaining the integrity of registration and absent voter lists
- Supply and security of the register and absent voter lists
- Public awareness
- Working with partners
- Accessibility and communication of information
- Planning for rolling registration and the annual canvass
- Training
“The standards will help to support improvements in electoral registration, a cornerstone of our democracy, by allowing EROs to assess their own work, share best practice and identify areas where support is needed”, said Tom Hawthorn, Head of Performance Standards at the Electoral Commission. “Publishing this information will allow the public to see the improvements being made and is vital in giving them confidence in the electoral registration process and the way our democracy is run.
“We were particularly keen to consult widely to ensure the standards are clear and objective and that the evidence we ask for is appropriate. We think we have achieved this and are pleased that we have had a positive response to our approach from so many EROs and groups such as the Association of Electoral Administrators and the Lifting the Burdens Task Force.”
The Commission will publish comprehensive guidance material for EROs on completing the performance standards later this summer.
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For further information please contact
Electoral Commission press office on 020 7271 0704
email: press@electoralcommission.org.uk
outside office hours 07789 920414
Notes to editors
1. The Electoral Commission is an independent body set up by the UK Parliament. Our aim is integrity and public confidence in the UK’s democratic process. We regulate party and election finance and set standards for well-run elections.
2. The Electoral Administration Act 2006 gives the Commission powers to set and monitor performance standards for electoral services. It also allows the Commission to collect information on the costs of electoral services from Electoral Registration Officers, Returning Officers and Referendum Counting Officers.
3. Details of the standards for Electoral Registration Officers can be found on the Performance Standards area of the Electoral Commission website. The standards do not apply in Northern Ireland, or to local government elections in Scotland.
4. A full response to the Commissions consultation exercise, explaining the reasons for changes to the standards, will be published later this summer alongside guidance on completing the performance standards.
5. A baseline data survey for Electoral Registration Officers was carried out between December 2007 – January 2008 and the Commission made the data and an analysis available on the website in May. The Commission is currently undertaking the first baseline data survey for Returning Officers. Following this, the Commission will be consulting formally on a set of draft performance standards for Returning Officers in the autumn of 2008.
