Electoral Commission Board
About our Commission Board
Our Commission Board, made up of our Commissioners and Executive Team, meets regularly to talk about our plans and how we’re making them happen.
We publish the minutes of these meetings so you can understand more about what we do.
Publishing meeting minutes
We publish minutes once our commissioners have reviewed and approved them at the meeting after the minutes were taken.
Redactions
We sometimes have to make redactions to the minutes, where we remove certain information. We make redactions if the information:
- will be published in the future
- relates to a policy that we are still developing
- is sensitive, because we have received it in our role as a regulator
- relates to enforcement actions
- could be sensitive for another reason
We make any redactions we’ve made clear, by including a summary. This summary will include either an overview of our redactions, or our reasons for redacting the information.
Latest meeting minutes
25 April 2023
- Welcomes and apologies, followed by an introduction to the Research Team providing an overview of its work
- Minutes
- Commission Board action tracker
- Chief Executive’s update (quarterly)
- Update on the plan for the review of Commission’s Strategic Objectives
- Digital campaigning
- Forward Plan of Board business 2023/24
- Update on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion activities
- Registers of Interests, gifts, donations and hospitality
2023 meeting minutes
The topics on this meeting's agenda were:
- Welcomes and apologies, followed by an introduction to the Human Resources Team providing an overview of their work
- Minutes
- Commission Board action tracker
- Chief Executive’s update
- Commission Strategic Direction
- Priority policy recommendations
- Annual review of governance
- Update from Audit and Risk Committee Chair
- Update from the Remuneration and Human Resources Committee (RemCo) Chair
The topics on this meeting's agenda were:
- Welcomes and introduction to the Speaker of the House of Commons, Rt Hon Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP
- Minutes
- Commission Board action tracker
- Chief Executive’s update
- Forward Plan of Board business 2022/23 and 2023/24
- Strategy and Policy Statement (SPS)
- Key messages for the annual report
- Annual review of risk
The topics on this meeting's agenda were:
- Minutes
- Commission Board action tracker
- Chief Executive’s update
- Forward Plan of Board business 2022/23 and 2023/24
- Board effectiveness review 2022/23
- Main Estimate 2023/24 budgets
- Board skills matrix and succession planning
- Improvements to registration and voting: increasing resilience and participation
- Embedding and advancing equality, diversity and inclusion in the Electoral Commission
2022 meeting minutes
The topics on this meeting's agenda were:
- Minutes
- Commission Board action tracker
- Chief Executive’s update including, the performance report quarter two 2022/23
- Forward Plan of Board business 2022/23
- Supplementary Estimate for 2022/23
- Returning Officer (RO) and Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) performance standards
- Draft Enforcement Policy review
- Revised Commission Board and Committee meeting dates for 2023/24
- Update from the Audit and Risk Committee (ARC) Chair
- Update from the Remuneration and Human Resources Committee (RemCo) Chair
- Annual review of schedule of internal policies and codes
- Annual declarations of interests
- Risk appetite workshop
The topics on this meeting's agenda were:
- Minutes
- Commission Board action tracker
- Forward Plan of Board business 2022/23
- Chief Executive’s update (quarterly)
- Performance report quarter one 2022/23
- Strategy and Policy Statement – responding to the statutory consultation
- Business planning for 2023/24
- Dates of proposed Commission Board and Committee meetings in 2023/24
- Update on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) activities
- Update on Bullying and Harassment
- Annual review of complaints
The topics on this meeting's agenda were:
- Minutes
- Commission Board action tracker
- Forward Plan of Board business 2022/23
- May 2022 elections
- Public awareness plans for scheduled elections in May 2023
- Modernising voting
- Business planning for 2023/24
- Elections Act update
- Chief Executive’s update
- Update from the Remuneration and Human Resources Committee
- Appointment of the Independent Adviser to the Commission Board on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI)
- Deep dive strategic session: Horizon scanning
22 June 2022
The topics on this meeting's agenda were:
- Minutes
- Commission Board action tracker
- Forward Plan of Board business 2022/23
- National Audit Office (NAO)
- RSM's annual internal audit report
- Annual Report and Accounts 2021/22
- Annual Report of the Audit and Risk Committee (ARC) 2021/22 to the Commission Board
- Annual Report of the Remuneration and Human Resources Committee 2021/22 to the Commission Board
- Pay remit 2022/23
- Board effectiveness matters
- Chief Executive's update
- Update from the Audit and Risk Committee Chair
The topics on this meeting's agenda were:
- Minutes
- Commission Board action tracker
- Forward Plan of Board business 2022/23
- May 2022 elections reporting
- Chief Executive’s update
- Key messages for the Annual Report
- Voter ID public awareness campaign approach
- Risk appetite statement
- Returning Officer (RO) and Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) performance standards
- Update from the Audit and Risk Committee Chair
The topics on this meeting's agenda were:
- Minutes
- Commission Board action tracker
- Forward Plan of Board business 2022/23
- Chief Executive updates
- Annual review of governance
- Commission Board effectiveness review 2020/21
- Update on Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) performance standards
- Update on elections
- Annual declaration of interests
The topics on this meeting's agenda were:
- Update from the Extraordinary Board meeting
- Minutes
- Commission Board action tracker
- Forward Plans of Board business 2021/22 and 2022/23
- Performance report quarter three 2020/21
- Performance indicators and targets 2022/23
- Updates on two stages of the Commission policy making and influencing process
- Update from the Audit and Risk Committee Chair
- Chief Executive update
- Registers of interests, gifts, donations and hospitality
- Deep dive strategic discussion: Risk appetite
- Incoming Chief Executive terms and conditions
The topics on this meeting's agenda were:
- Commission Board action tracker
- Forward Plans of Board business 2021/22 and 2022/23
- Main estimate 2022/23 and corporate plan budgets
- Policy priorities of the Commission
- Chief Executive’s update
- Deep dive strategic discussion: approach to political finance
2021 meeting minutes
The topics on this meeting's agenda were:
- Commission Board action tracker
- Forward Plan of Board business 2021/22 and 2022/23
- Elections Bill
- Performance report quarter two 2021/22
- Supplementary Estimate
- Update from the Remuneration and Human Resources Committee (RemCo) Chair
- Update from the Audit and Risk Committee (ARC) Chair
- Data on investigation timescales
- Annual review of risk
- Chief Executive’s update
The topics on this meeting's agenda were:
- Commission Board action tracker
- Forward Plan of Board business
- Board effectiveness review and follow up on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) discussion on improving Board diversity
The topics on this meeting's agenda were:
- Corporate Plan 2022/23 – 2026/27
- Performance report quarter one 2021/22
- Discussion on Board diversity and update on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) activities
- Policy Development Grants scheme
- Dates of proposed Commission Board and Committee meetings 2022/23
- Update from the Remuneration and Human Resources Committee (RemCo) Chair
- Update from the Audit and Risk Committee (ARC) Chair
- Annual review of complaints
- Chief Executive’s update
The topics on this meeting's agenda were:
- Reporting on the May 2021 polls
- Corporate Plan 2022/23 – 2026/27
- Elections Bill update
- Modernising voting research
- Public awareness plans for scheduled elections in May 2022
- Governance matter – Audit and Risk Committee (ARC) membership
The topics on this meeting's agenda were:
- Corporate Plan 2022/23-2026/27
- Annual Report and Accounts 2020/21
- Governance matter
- Update from the Audit and Risk Committee Chair
- Annual Report of the Audit and Risk Committee to the Commission Board
- Annual Report of the Remuneration and Human Resources Committee to the Commission Board
- Chief Executive’s update
The topics on this meeting's agenda were:
- May 2021 elections reporting
- Corporate Plan 2022/23 – 2026/27: strategic direction
- Performance report quarter four 2020/21
- Review of the Annual Report and Accounts 2020/21
- Update from Committee Chairs
The topics on this meeting's agenda were:
- Update on elections
- Corporate Plan 2022/23 – 2026/27: plan structure
- Corporate Plan 2022/23 – 2026/27: financial strategy
- Key messages for the Annual Report
- Chief Executive’s update
- Meet the new Chair designate
The topics on this meeting's agenda were:
- Update on elections
- Annual review of governance
- Risk framework
- Update on Board Effectiveness Review action plan
- Governance matter
- Annual review of schedule of policies
- Annual declaration of interests
- Registers of interests, gifts, donations and hospitality
The topics on this meeting's agenda were:
- Update on elections
- Business Plan and Main Estimate 2021/22
- Regulatory support strategy
- Performance report quarter three 2020/21
- UK Government Electoral Integrity Bill
- Update from the Chair of Audit and Risk Committee
- Chief Executive’s update
The topics on this meeting's agenda were:
- Update on elections
- Business planning 2021/22
- Update on Board Effectiveness Review: proposed action plan
- Developing the effectiveness of the Commission Board
- Casework and the Committee on Standards in Public Life
- Horizon scanning
- Update from the Chair of Remuneration and Human Resources Committee (RemCo)
- Update from the Chair of Audit Committee
- Chief Executive’s update
2020 meeting minutes
The topics on this meeting's agenda were:
- Supplementary Estimate 2020/21
- Performance report quarter two, 2020/21
- Governance matter
- Update on 2021 elections
- Update on voter education resources
- Update from Committee Chairs
- Chief Executive’s update
The topics on this meeting's agenda were:
- Commission Board action tracker
- Forward Plan of Board business
- The challenges, risks, and issues around frontline delivery
- Corporate planning 2021/2026
- Chief Executive’s update
The topics on this meeting's agenda were:
- An update – the Committee on Standards in Public Life (CSPL) review on aspects of electoral regulation
- Review of Commission Board Effectiveness
- Performance report – Quarter one 2020/21
- Chief Executive’s update
- Update from the Chair of Remuneration and Human Resources Committee (RemCo)
- Individual Staffing Issue
The topics on this meeting's agenda were:
- Modernising voting
- Public awareness plans for elections in May 2021
- Chief Executive’s update
The topics on this meeting's agenda were:
- The Annual Report of the Audit Committee to the Commission Board
- The Annual Report of the Remuneration and Human Resources Committee to the Commission Board
- Annual Report
Read the full minutes of the 24 June 2020 meeting
A portion of this meeting was conducted by electronic business
The topics on this meeting's agenda were:
- Findings from the Winter Tracker
- Using research to support our work
- Policy priorities of the Commission
Read the full minutes of the 20 May 2020 meeting
A portion of this meeting was conducted by electronic business
The topics on this meeting's agenda were:
- The impact of Coronavirus on the Commission and progress on key work areas
- Updated timeline on the corporate planning process 2021/26
- Annual review of risk
- Commission Board Effectiveness Review
The topics on this meeting's agenda were:
- Section 10 request by Scottish Government for the Commission to provide advice and assistance by considering the wording and intelligibility of a potential referendum question
- Governance update
- An update on legal proceedings
- Key messages for the Annual Report
- A review of Electoral Registration Officers performance standards
The topics on this meeting's agenda were:
- Section 10 assessment
- Performance report quarter three 2019/20
- Corporate planning 2021/26
The topics on this meeting's agenda were:
- Reflections on 2019 United Kingdom Parliamentary General Election
- Government policy priorities following the UK Parliamentary General Election
- Corporate Plan and budget 2020/25
- Corporate Plan 2021/26
Read the full minutes of the 22 January 2020 meeting
After the meeting, there was an informal session on our approach to public awareness campaigns.
2019 meeting minutes
The topics on this meeting's agenda were:
- An update on electoral events, including supporting the delivery of the UK Parliamentary General Election (UKPGE) on 12 December 2019
- A supplementary estimate
- Corporate and business planning
The topics on this meeting's agenda were:
- Consideration of likelihood of unscheduled electoral events, Queen’s Speech, and related matters
- Discussion on the findings from the winter-tracker research
- Scoping for procurement of external facilitator for 2020 Board Effectiveness Review
The topics on this meeting’s agenda were:
- Minutes of the Commission Board meeting of 26 June 2019, note from the Commissioner Day on 17 July 2019, and note from meeting of Commissioners on 5 September 2019
- Discussion on imminent political events affecting the Commission (oral update)
- Policy development grants scheme for 2020/21
- Public awareness plans for the May 2020 elections
- Business planning 2020/21 – planning strategy and themes
- Performance report Quarter one 2019/20
- Schedule of Commission Board and Committee meetings 2020/21
- Chief Executive’s update
- Forward plan of Board business 2019/20
- Action tracker
- Chair and Chief Executive’s meetings and meetings of note in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland
Read the full minutes of the 25 September 2019 meeting
After the meeting, there was an informal session on our accuracy and completeness survey. Read the notes of this session
The topics on this meeting's agenda were:
- 2019 UKPGE preparedness and funding
The topics on this meeting's agenda were:
- Managing regulatory risk
The topics on this meeting’s agenda were:
- Annual review of complaints
- Audit Committee Annual Report
- Remuneration and Human Resources Committee Annual Report 2018/19
- Adoption of 2018/19 Annual Report and resources accounts
- Voter identification pilots (2019) evaluation
- Chief Executive’s update
- Forward plan of Board business 2019/20
- Action tracker
- Chair and Chief Executive’s meeting and meetings of note in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland
The topics on this meeting’s agenda were:
- Update on May polls
- Modernising electoral registration project
- Confirmation of actions arising from the 24 April 2019 Board Effectiveness Review
- Performance Report Quarter four 2018/19
- Update on Ways of working
- Forward plan of Board business 2019/20
- Chair and Chief Executive’s meeting and meetings of note in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland
The topics on this meeting’s agenda were:
- Update on May polls
- Board Effectiveness Review
The topics on this meeting’s agenda were:
- Proposed changes to Committee membership
- Any other business
Read the full minutes of the 24 April 2019 extraordinary meeting
The topics on this meeting’s agenda were:
- European Parliamentary Elections decision-making discussion
- Update on recruitment of new Chief Executive
Read the full minutes of the 9 April 2019 meeting extraordinary
The topics on this meeting’s agenda were:
- Speaker’s Committee update
- Key messages for the Annual Report 2018/19
- Annual risk review
- Recommendations from innovation and development project four: Improving youth democratic engagement
- Update on progress on new website
- Chief Executive’s update
- Forward plan of Board business 2018/2020
- Action tracker
- Chair and Chief Executive’s meeting and meetings in devolved legislatures
The topics on this meeting’s agenda were:
- The Business Plan and Main Estimate 2019/20
- Governance update
- Appointment of a Commissioner to a vacancy on the Remuneration and Human Resources Committee
- Chief Executive’s update
- Performance and finance report quarter three 2018/19
- Forward plan of Board business 2018/2020
- Action tracker
- Chair and Chief Executive’s meeting and meetings in devolved legislatures
2018 meeting minutes
The topics on this meeting’s agenda were:
- Project overview
- 2019/20 Draft Budget and Business Plan
- Chief Executive’s update
- Quarter two performance and finance report
- Forward plan of Board business 2018/19
- Action tracker
- Chair and Chief Executive’s meeting and meetings in devolved legislatures
- Meeting wash-up (Commissioners only)
Read the full minutes of the 5 December 2018 meeting
After the meeting, there was an informal session on simplifying and modernising electoral law across the UK. Read the notes of this session
This was an informal day discussion.
The topics on this meeting’s agenda were:
- The future of voting – what we know
- Accessibility of elections
- Providing services that meet the needs of all users
- The future of voting
The topics on this meeting’s agenda were:
- Delivering the Commission’s policy agenda
- Prosecutions policy
- Public awareness campaign for May 2019 – approach and budget
- Quarter one performance and finance report
- Chief Executive’s update
- Forward plan of Board business 2018/19
- Action tracker
- Chair and Chief Executive’s meetings and meetings in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales
This was an informal day discussion.
The topics on this meeting’s agenda were:
- Headlines/issues since last board meeting
The topics on this meeting’s agenda were:
- ID Pilot Evaluation Findings (presentation)
- Audit Committee Annual Report
- Remuneration and Human Resources Committee Annual Report
- Annual review of complaints
- Adoption of 2017/18 Resource Accounts and Annual Report
- Draft Business Plan 2018/19 and review of Performance Measures
- Chief Executive’s update for May 2018
- Forward plan of Board business 2018/19
- Action tracker for May
- Chair’s and Chief Executive’s meetings, and meetings in devolved legislatures
The topics on this meeting’s agenda were:
- Post elections – Key messages for post-poll report(s) and potential policy implications
- Corporate Governance update
- Codes of Practice
- Key messages for the 2017/18 Annual Report
- Chief Executive’s update for April 2018
- Annual Review of Risk Register
- Quarter four Finance and Performance Report and achievements against 2017/18 Corporate Plan
- Minutes of Audit Committee meeting, 20 March 2018
- Forward plan of Board business 2018/19
- Action tracker
- Chair’s and Chief Executive’s meetings, and meetings in devolved legislatures
- Commissioner wash-up (Commissioners only)
The topics on this meeting’s agenda were:
- Presentation from the Australian Electoral Commission
- Presentation from Peter Wildman – Scottish Assessors Organisation
- Informal Board discussion
The topics on this meeting’s agenda were:
- Regulatory matter for decision
- Proposal to provide indicative funding information to the Scottish Parliament and National Assembly for Wales
- May elections update
- Accuracy and Completeness Study
- Business Plan 2018/19: Principles for Performance Measures
- Chief Executive’s update for March
- Quarter three Finance and Performance Report
- Annual Review of Corporate Governance
- Forward plan of Board business 2018-19
- Decision tracker for February
- Chair’s and Chief Executive’s meetings, and meetings in devolved legislatures
- Commissioner wash-up (Commissioners only)
The topics on this meeting’s agenda were:
- Draft Corporate Plan 2018/19 to 2022/23
- Main Estimate for 2018/19
- Chief Executive’s update for January
- Appointment to Committees
- Forward plan of Board business 2018/19
- Decision/action tracker for January