Board minutes: 15 October 2024

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting. Roseanna Cunningham, Commissioner, and Niki Nixon, Interim Director of Communications had sent apologies. There were no new declarations of interest.

Commissioners commended the report which had been prepared on elections research findings 2024.

Overall, the report indicated that the election had run smoothly, with most people, who wished to do so being able to vote and candidates and campaigners being able to get their views across to the electorate effectively. However, there is still room for improvement in some areas and the Commission should push for action to make the necessary changes. On the basis of the evidence gathered, Commissioners consider that the key areas for action are:

• abuse and intimidation of candidates. The Commission should work closely with the Speaker’s Conference on this issue. The report should: explore the role and variability of police responses to incidents of abuse and intimidation of candidates,
• bring out the individual stories of the experience of candidates who had been subject to abuse and intimidation, to highlight the effect on people and the wider detrimental effect on participation
• postal voting: The report should clarify the scope and scale of issues raised for postal voting, including reference to the need to avoid elections in school holidays
• overseas voting: The report should bring out the particular challenges faced by overseas voters
• voter ID: the report should include reference to the previously published findings on voter ID to ensure that this report could stand alone
• accessibility: the report should highlight the need for further action on accessibility for an equal, diverse and inclusive electoral system, for example improving the prominence of adjustments in polling stations.
• consistency of elections delivery across local authorities: the report should explore issues of variability of performance between local authorities in order to ensure consistency delivery against agreed performance standards
• nominations: the report should spell out issues around the nominations process for candidates, including how the police handle allegations of nominations fraud
• digital systems: the report should explore the challenges faced by local authorities in using digital systems on which they rely to manage the electoral process

Commissioners sought a strong communication of the report when it is published in order to facilitate effective follow up and action a promotional campaign to accompany the publication of the report.

Resolved: That the Board agreed the key messages, the plan for publication and for communication and implementation to prepare for the Chief Executive to sign off the final 2024 election report prior to publication in mid-November.

Following the 4 July 2024 UK Parliamentary general election, changes to the Commission’s scheme for allocating Policy Development Grants to eligible parties must be amended. Consultation with eligible parties on the Commission’s proposed approach to amendments was underway. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) was responsible for drafting the secondary legislation giving effect to any recommendations of the Electoral

Commission, with any modifications required by the Secretary of State. Two political parties had become newly eligible for a grant and a further party ineligible.

Consultation was with the Westminster Parliamentary Parties Panel (WPPP). The Board requested that the Commission find a route for informing parties of the consultation even if they were not eligible under the current scheme.

Commissioners favoured a proposed way forward which kept the scheme as clear and simple as possible. The consultation related to the method of calculating parties’ shares of the second £1m of the total £2m available in grants to eligible parties each year. The preferred option 4 set out in the consultation had been derived from a principles-based approach which tracked to the scheme’s purpose. The tie-back to the number of parliamentary voters as proposed was seen as consistent with other Commission policies.

Consultation responses would be shared with Commissioners for review after the 28 October close.

Action: Executive team to find a route for informing parties of the consultation even if they were not eligible under the current scheme.

Resolved: That Board members would be given a further opportunity to review post-consultation findings. Subject to that opportunity being given, the Board agreed to delegate to the Chair and Chief Executive to sign off the post-consultation scheme for the allocation of policy development grants to political parties and to submit recommendations for terms and change to the Secretary of State.

The minutes of the Board meeting held on 17 September 2024 were accepted.

The status of actions which had been requested by the Board was noted.

Preparations were being made for the 26 November board meeting. A follow up workshop on board effectiveness was planned to take place after the business meeting. The Head of Governance would work with Commissioners and senior leaders in advance of the session.

Resolved: That the Board noted the governance and procedural matters reports including agreement to the minutes of the meeting held on 17 September