Electoral administrators were ‘stretched beyond belief’ in the May local and general elections, according to a new report calling for a fundamental rethink of the electoral process in the UK.
The Association of Electoral Administrators (AEA) has warned the electoral process has become increasingly complex and challenging, with those delivering electoral registration struggling to cope with the extra burdens.
Preparing for Individual Electoral Registration (IER) meant electoral administrators were ‘exhausted’ before the election timetable even started, the AEA added.
‘Many of the problems that currently exist and which surfaced again at this year’s elections are because of the historic nature of the systems in place and which are increasingly becoming unfit for purpose,’ said chief executive of the AEA, John Turner.
‘Our report provides an account of the experience of electoral administrators in delivering IER and the polls on 7 May 2015 and offers recommendations for improvements to the framework for electoral administration in the UK and which puts the voter at the heart of the process.’
The report is calling for a UK-wide review of funding and staffing structures in electoral services, with extra money to cover the additional costs of administering the electoral registration process in the run up to an election.
It also wants the Government to bring forward a single Electoral Administration Act, and to implement a formal complaints system to improve accountability.
