EA Bulletin: 412 England

This April, the Electoral Commission launches a new five-year strategy. The aim of the plan and everything we do, will be to help people trust, value and take part in elections.  

In addition to delivering the breadth of our core work, we have identified five key priorities during this period: 

• Supporting voters and increasing participation
• Modernising the electoral system
• Safeguarding and protecting the system
• Leading an informed debate about the future of elections
• Strengthening the Electoral Commission 

These plans have been developed in direct response to the data and evidence we have gathered and published, and through listening to the concerns of voters, parties, candidates and administrators. It also includes the Commission's new vision and values. These were developed through the input and views of a wide range of stakeholders, including a number of administrators who contributed their insight. Many thanks to all those that took part.  

We look forward to working closely with the sector in the coming years to deliver these aims and support a healthy democracy. This includes our aim to address long-standing problems created by outdated, complex and inconsistent electoral law, and to protect electoral administrators from abuse or intimidation.   

The Commission has recently updated the process for reporting any missing or incorrect imprints. Since the start of April, all reports of potential missing or incorrect imprints (digital or print) can now be made through a single portal, available here, on our website.

Last year, during the elections, this webform was used exclusively for digital imprints, while printed imprints allegations were dealt with separately.  For the 2025 elections, we have simplified this into one easy to use system.  

Please share the link with anyone wanting to report or make any allegation regarding imprints.

Where it appears there is a missing, incomplete, or non-compliant imprint, our first step is to proactively contact the campaigner and ask them to amend the materials. As you will be aware, we proactively support campaigners to comply with the law around imprints by providing advice and guidance. This includes material that we do not regulate such as candidate’s materials.

In cases where the Commission has enforcement powers, and we consider it appropriate under our Enforcement Policy, (such as where we have not been able to secure compliance via other means), we may open an investigation.

In cases where the police have enforcement powers, following our contact with the campaigner, we can provide information to the relevant police force upon their request.  

In any event, where an enquirer provides contact details, we will provide them with information regarding the outcome of their report.