Polling booths to be set up in train stations and supermarkets to encourage people to vote
Voters in England will be able to cast their ballots at supermarkets and train stations in upcoming local elections, the government has confirmed in a bid to boost voter turnout.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) said various councils across the country will test these new ‘flexible voting’ options on election day on May 7 this year.
A statement from the department adds: “By giving voters more choice about where and when they can vote, these changes aim to remove practical barriers to people voting.”
The move echoes models used in the Scandinavian countries Sweden and Norway, where citizens have historically been able to vote in advance at multiple locations, including supermarkets, train stations, libraries and even IKEA.
A similar scheme was piloted in the UK between 2000 and 2007 but had little impact on voter turnout, according to an Electoral Commission report from the time. Its evaluation found that the program increased “the accessibility and convenience of the election process” but did not ensure the actual start of voting in advance. [remained] Low”.
The new plan was announced alongside the introduction of the government’s new Representation of the People Bill, which will be presented to parliament today.
These comprehensive measures include legislation extending the right to vote in all elections in the UK to young people aged 16 and 17. The government announced that it aims to implement the change before the next general elections to be held in 2029 at the latest.
MHCLG says the bill also introduces new reforms to tackle foreign actors using their money to interfere in UK elections.
These measures will require companies making political donations to show they have a genuine link to the UK. This involves showing that they are headquartered in the UK and are majority owned or controlled by UK voters or citizens.
The government says recent cases underline the need for legislation. They mention ex-MEP Nathan Gill, the former Welsh Reform UK leader who was jailed for pro-Russian bribery, and UK-based lawyer Christine Lee, who was found to be working secretly on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party.
Housing secretary Steve Reed said: “The Representation of the People Bill will herald a new era for our democracy, protecting against foreign interference and empowering young people.
“With increasing threats from abroad, it is time to make changes to secure our elections and engage young people in voting.
“Our new laws will make this a reality, strengthening safeguards over our elections and delivering once-in-a-generation changes to finally give 16 and 17-year-olds the voice they deserve.”
Additional rules will give the Electoral Commission the power to impose tougher fines of up to £500,000 on those who breach political finance rules and crack down on voter intimidation and harassment.
Democracy minister Samantha Dixon said: “I know from speaking to so many passionate young people how keen they are to get involved in our democracy. By teaching democracy as part of the national curriculum, millions of young people will have the knowledge and confidence to take part in our democratic process for the first time.”
“This landmark bill will make their voices heard as we crack down on those who seek to intimidate people of our democracy and subvert our elections with illegal foreign money.”
Dr Parth Patel, deputy director of IPPR, commented: “Only one in two people voted in the last election. We are stuck in a disastrous cycle of low turnout and unresponsive government.”
“This bill is an important step forward to get out of this situation. It represents the biggest reform to our electoral system in half a century, reducing the pressure of the powerful and giving more voice to the voiceless.
“But this must be the beginning, not the end. Parliament must build on this bill with a tougher set of reforms to clean up the political system. Now is the time to end corruption in British democracy.”
