EA Bulletin: 422 England

As set out in Bulletin 419, on 4 August we launched a consultation on the guidance for Returning Officers on assistance with voting for persons with disabilities.  

We are grateful for the feedback we’ve received to date. The consultation closes on 26 October, and we want to hear from as many people as possible. You can respond by filling in this form or emailing your views to  [email protected].

The Scottish and Welsh governments are introducing legislation ahead of the May 2026 polls, to align the accessibility provisions for elections in Scotland and Wales with the changes introduced by the Elections Act 2022.  

These changes have provided a timely opportunity to review our existing guidance, drawing on the evidence gathered as part of our monitoring and evaluation from the elections which have taken place across the UK since the changes were first introduced, to help ensure everyone can vote independently and confidently. There should be no barriers to voting for disabled people, and everyone should have the right to vote on their own and in secret. 

As set out in Bulletin 420, on 8 September the Electoral Commission launched a consultation on our new Code of Practice for Accredited Electoral Observers. There is still time to leave feedback on the new Code.  

The consultation will run until 2 November 2025. You can respond by filling in our survey, emailing your views to [email protected] or writing to us at: Electoral Observers Officer, The Electoral Commission, The Boat, 49 Queen's Square, Belfast, BT1 3FG. 

Feedback will help us improve the draft before the final version is laid in the Scottish and Westminster Parliaments and Welsh Senedd, as required by law.

Once we have considered the responses to this consultation, we expect to lay the Code in December.

Once passed, the updated Code will replace the existing version, and accredited observers will be expected to adhere to it throughout the duration of their accreditation.