UK electoral system ‘fraying at the edges’, official watchdog head warns

Chief executive of the Electoral Commission calls for action on reforms

Britain’s electoral system is “fraying at the edges” and causing concern for voters, the head of the UK’s official watchdog has warned.

Reforms are needed to reassure the public about the UK’s voting system, Bob Posner, the chief executive of the Electoral Commission suggested.

In an interview with The Independent, Mr Posner called for changes to a “system that works in the UK but is fraying at the edges. And, you can see, that is worrying people, that is worrying the public and voters.”

His call comes as the UK prepares for a bumper year of elections in 2021.

On top of elections scheduled to be held in 2021, including to the Scottish parliament, a series of polls which were delayed because of the coronavirus crisis will now be held next year, including to elect a mayor of London.

But Mr Posner warned that many of the UK’s current electoral laws were not suitable for the modern age.

For example, the laws governing online political adverts differ to those for leaflets mailed through letter boxes.

He said: “There is no reason why we cannot bring more transparency to political funding about where money comes from. There is no reason why voters cannot really understand when they get targeted online who is trying to influence them. These are very straightforward things that can be done.”

He also called on ministers to modernise the offences on intimidation of candidates who stand for public office.

He pointed to a survey the commission carried out during the last general election.

In the run up to December’s poll, police urged prospective MPs not to canvass alone and to take “active steps” to protect themselves, in the wake of an unprecedented increase in abuse and death threats.

The commission’s report found that three in four of those standing to become an MP had been on the receiving end of intimidation.

“That is a massive figure. Which means that most candidates, even in very quiet, civilised parts of the country, were experiencing unpleasantness. That goes to whether they are willing to stand for office. It also goes to their ability to campaign,” Mr Posner said.

Others involved in elections, such as local returning officers, also received threats and intimidation, he added.

“These are really important things to address,” he said, “to modernise the offences. For the public to see where the law is broken, that the authorities do take action.”

Too many electoral offences were written at a time when a digital offender could be not even be imagined, he added.

In May 2019, Theresa May’s government committed to implementing a requirement that digital adverts have what is called an “imprint”, setting out who the advert is from.

This was not introduced in time for December’s election, however.

Although the new government has also committed to introduce the imprint, it has yet to say when that will happen.

A Cabinet Office spokesperson said the Electoral Commission’s own report showed high levels of voter satisfaction with the polling process in the 2019 general election.

He added: “This government is clear that we must address the gaps in our current electoral framework, including in online campaigning. That is why we are strengthening the integrity of our elections in the digital age.

“We need to get this right for everyone and that requires thorough engagement with the electoral community, including the commission, and all political parties.”