Letter to Mr Speaker on Strategy and Policy Statement

Dear Mr Speaker

The Strategy and Policy Statement for the Electoral Commission

I am writing to report on the activity undertaken by the Commission during the last 12 
months, following the designation of the Strategy and Policy Statement (SPS) by the UK 
Government in February 2024. 

We remain opposed to the principle of an SPS for the reasons in my letter of July 2023.
Independent oversight of elections is essential if public confidence is to be safeguarded. 
However, as required, we have met our duty to have regard to the Statement. In doing so, 
we have maintained our independence and impartiality by balancing the contents of the 
Statement with the regard we give to other factors, particularly the will, priorities and 
legislative agendas of the UK’s three parliaments and our statutory duties. We have also 
considered the wide range of evidence collected on the functioning of the electoral system
and the views and interests of stakeholders across the electoral community, including the 
political parties, administrators, candidates, and voters. 

The Statement details a number of the Commission’s duties and responsibilities as they relate to the delivery of the UK Government’s priorities. None of the responsibilities listed were outside of the Commission’s existing planned activity or practice, and the responsibilities listed are not novel. They will be reported on in the Commission’s Annual Report, as in previous years. These duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the provision of guidance and support for electoral administrators; supporting participation through the provision of public information and awareness raising activity; and ensuring compliance with the political finance framework. 

Several responsibilities listed are derived from new provisions included in the Elections Act 2022. The Statement directs the Commission to:

• raise public awareness about the new voter ID requirement and availability of the free 
  Voter Authority Certificate;
• issue guidance to Returning Officers on new accessibility requirements; 
• inform the public about the extension of the franchise to British citizens overseas and 
  the availability of online applications for absent voting; 
• prepare a code of practice on the controls for third party campaigners;
• produce guidance for campaigners on how to comply with new rules, such as the 
  restriction on foreign third-party campaigning;
• enforce the new digital imprint regime; and 
• reflect changes to the law on notional expenditure when updating guidance on 
  spending.

The Commission has an existing duty to respond to and reflect changes to legislation that 
Parliament has approved, including changes brought about by the Elections Act 2022. In 
line with these obligations, the Commission delivered the activities listed above in the last 
12 months, in its preparations for both the May elections and the UK parliamentary 
general election. As the statutory regulator, the Commission has also continued to provide 
independent advice to the UK’s governments and parliaments about changes to policy 
and legislation, drawing on relevant experience and expertise. 

The Statement also lists a number of principles to which the Commission should adhere, 
including impartiality, accountability, responsiveness to the public and the public interest, 
value for money and devolution. These principles are embedded in the organisation’s 
culture and practice. As in previous years, these principles have guided our work over the 
last 12 months and as we have developed our five-year Corporate Plan. 

You will find a full account of the Commission’s performance over the last year in the 
2024/25 Annual Report, due to be published in the summer. I look forward to expanding 
upon the organisation’s 2024/25 performance when we meet in March, and again in the
autumn when you have had the opportunity to review the Annual Report.

Yours sincerely,

John Pullinger
Chair