What we are working to achieve

We need to make sure our electoral system keeps pace with digital developments. We need to capitalise on the scope for greater compliance, transparency and the financial savings technology offers, while working to retain voter confidence in the electoral system. We also need to modernise the electoral system to ensure it is environmentally sustainable. We are working towards a modern and sustainable electoral system by:

  • harnessing data and technology to meet the needs of voters, campaigners and electoral administrators
  • understanding, calling for action and acting on the changing risks to the election system from the misuse of data and technology
  • continuing to build strong relationships and streamlining working practices with all bodies that are part of the electoral system
  • supporting governments and the wider electoral community to adopt a strategy and implementation plan which meets environmental standards required of our electoral system.

Work done to achieve this aim

  • The Commission submitted written evidence to the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee’s inquiry on electoral registration, including how public data could be more effectively used to improve the accuracy and completeness of electoral registers. 
  • As well as providing expert advice and recommendations for improving the current system, we continue to explore the feasibility of modernising the voting and registration process. 
  • We will be carrying out accuracy and completeness research on the electoral registers to update our evidence-base on the state of the registers and how the current system is working in practice and could be improved.

Performance indicators

Indicator Target 2022-23
Meeting requirements of existing and emerging or new environmental legislation N/A – This will be developed when the UK Government’s target is published N/A

This indicator is intended to help the Commission measure and report its environmental impact, and to meet its requirements from existing and new environmental legislation. Targets will be developed and baselined during the first three years of the corporate plan, depending on published government targets.

Without an immediate election on the horizon many involved in this work, including the Electoral Commission, are thinking about where the work to engage young people in our democratic process needs to go next.

The Commission writing for the Institute for Welsh Affairs

Ongoing and future work

  • We are currently updating our accuracy and completeness research, which will help us to understand the health of the UK’s electoral registers. The updated findings for both Great Britain and Northern Ireland will be published in autumn 2023.
  • We will continue to engage with the UK Parliament’s Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Select Committee’s enquiry around possible changes to voter registration systems across the UK. The Commission’s feasibility studies on better use of public data and automated or automatic registration will continue to underpin our approach in this area. 
  • The Commission will continue to invest time and resources in building relationships with other regulators and stakeholders to understand their views and identify opportunities for collaboration.