Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Gary Streeter and Stephen Mosley

Thursday 30th October 2014 Commons Chamber

[Mr Streeter]

There is an onus on all of us to get the message to our constituents that anyone voting by post should ensure that they get their postal vote away in good time, especially if they are voting from overseas. All electoral registration officers can make an arrangement with the Royal Mail so that all postal votes in the sorting office on polling day are collected and taken to the returning officer. I think that it is important that all EROs enter into such arrangements.

[Stephen Mosley (City of Chester) (Con)]

In 2012 the law was changed to allow returning officers to write to people whose postal votes were rejected because of signature or date of birth errors. Surely it would make sense to allow them to write to those whose postal votes were returned late to notify them and help ensure that they do not do it again.

[Mr Streeter]

That is an excellent suggestion. It is not currently done, but I will certainly take it back to the commission so that it can pass it on to returning officers.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Gary Streeter and Stephen Mosley

Thursday 7th March 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mr Streeter]

It most certainly is considered. I do not want to prejudge the report, which will be published later this month, but it is well known that the Electoral Commission advised the Government in advance of its concerns about the lack of information about candidates going to voters. I very much hope that before the next police and crime commissioner elections, which are due in 2016, significant lessons will have been learned.

[Stephen Mosley (City of Chester) (Con)]

One lesson I have learned is that if senior Members of this House, such as the shadow Home Secretary, are appearing on television screens before an election telling everyone that the election is a waste of time and money, we can hardly be surprised if the electors are not all that interested. Does my hon. Friend agree that if Members of this House are not prepared to stand up to champion democracy, we cannot be surprised if members of the public are not flocking to the polling stations?

[Mr Streeter]

I am delighted to say that the Electoral Commission is not responsible for any comments made by the shadow Home Secretary or any other Member of this House.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Gary Streeter and Stephen Mosley

Thursday 24th January 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mr Streeter]

Yes I do, and, more important, so do the Government, which is precisely why it is going to happen.

[Stephen Mosley (City of Chester) (Con)]

One way to boost electoral turnout is to have candidates who are able to enthuse positively the electorate. Does the Electoral Commission have any plans to crack down on nasty, negative and dishonest campaigning?

[Mr Streeter]

In the many conversations I have had with the Electoral Commission over the months and years, this specific issue has not cropped up.