Found: As you are aware, this is the date of local elections.

Found: Widen the byelaw-making power to enable byelaws to cover To provide more flexibility in how elections

Found: of issues arising from the review as soon as practicable after the Poli ce and Crime Commissioner elections

Found: We are coming up to PCC elections, so there will be an opportunity to reset police and crime plans

Found: stimulated because of the income from business rates, and in a keen interest in the outcome of local elections

Found: disrupt and push back against complying with its legal obligations, and often runs in multilateral elections

Found: decision making to block policies and institutions which are critical for supporting democratic elections

Found: promotion of democracy and electoral observation missions, Beijing has sent representatives to elections

Found: .16 16)More effort has been made in recent years by the UK to coordinate with partners to ensure elections

Found: understand that our immediate focus is almost wholly on supporting the delivery of the May 2024 elections

Found: o UK should prioritise finding a solution to the Airbus -Boeing dispute at WTO after the US elections

Found: – the resurgence of the Conservative Party in Scotland at the 2017 general election, after five elections

Found: It impacts a range of issues, such as climate change, 5G, water fluoridation, elections and those claiming

Found: It impacts a range of issues, such as climate change, 5G, water fluoridation, elections and those claiming

Found: There will be hearings after the European elections for the new candidate commissioners.

Found: Dr Leoni, on a slightly different point, how do you think the elections in prospect in the United States

Found: Dr Leoni, on a slightly different point, how do you think the elections in prospect in the United States

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether he has made an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of reports of electoral irregularities in the Pakistani general election of 8 February 2024; and whether he has had discussions with his Pakistani counterpart on allowing an impartial and fair investigation of such irregularities.

Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK has a longstanding and close relationship with Pakistan. Following the general election in Pakistan on 8 February, the Foreign Secretary issued a statement which recognised the serious concerns raised about the fairness and lack of inclusivity of the elections. He underlined these points in a call with Pakistan's new Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, on 25 March. The UK encourages Pakistani authorities to examine all allegations carefully and take steps to address any irregularities.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what steps his Department is taking to promote democracy in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK supports a thriving Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) within a peaceful and prosperous Iraq. Through our diplomatic engagements, we continue to encourage cooperation between Baghdad and Erbil to resolve outstanding issues, including around Kurdish representation in Iraqi politics.

Elections are essential for the people of the KRI to express their voice and for the future of the region. We are monitoring the situation with long-overdue KRI elections closely and we are seeking a solution that allows free and fair elections to take place as soon as possible.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what steps he is taking to promote free and fair elections in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK supports a thriving Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) within a peaceful and prosperous Iraq. Through our diplomatic engagements, we continue to encourage cooperation between Baghdad and Erbil to resolve outstanding issues, including around Kurdish representation in Iraqi politics.

Elections are essential for the people of the KRI to express their voice and for the future of the region. We are monitoring the situation with long-overdue KRI elections closely and we are seeking a solution that allows free and fair elections to take place as soon as possible.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what steps his Department is taking to encourage the Federal Government of Iraq to promote inclusion of Kurdish (a) political leaders and (b) Members of Parliament in the (i) Iraqi Council of Representatives in Baghdad and (ii) national political affairs of Iraq.

Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK supports a thriving Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) within a peaceful and prosperous Iraq. Through our diplomatic engagements, we continue to encourage cooperation between Baghdad and Erbil to resolve outstanding issues, including around Kurdish representation in Iraqi politics.

Elections are essential for the people of the KRI to express their voice and for the future of the region. We are monitoring the situation with long-overdue KRI elections closely and we are seeking a solution that allows free and fair elections to take place as soon as possible.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what steps he is taking to help ensure the Federal Government of Iraq uphold the constitutional rights of the Kurdish population.

Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK supports a thriving Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) within a peaceful and prosperous Iraq. Through our diplomatic engagements, we continue to encourage cooperation between Baghdad and Erbil to resolve outstanding issues, including around Kurdish representation in Iraqi politics.

Elections are essential for the people of the KRI to express their voice and for the future of the region. We are monitoring the situation with long-overdue KRI elections closely and we are seeking a solution that allows free and fair elections to take place as soon as possible.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what discussions he has had with (a) his Togolese counterpart, (b) the Economic Community of West African States and (c) the African Union on the impact on democratic accountability in Togo of recent constitutional reforms; and what steps he is taking to support monitoring of the forthcoming elections in that country.

Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)

The UK Government engages with the Government of Togo through our High Commission in Accra. We encourage a peaceful and inclusive dialogue in Togo, to work through constitutional reforms; and we urge the Government to set a new date for legislative and regional elections without delay. The UK will continue to engage partners, including ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States), and monitor for further developments.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the recent election postponements in Senegal on the (a) democratic stability and (b) international reputation of that country; and whether he is taking steps with his Senegalese counterpart to help improve the (i) democratic stability and (ii) international reputation of that country.

Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)

The recent presidential elections and peaceful transition of power have demonstrated the strength of Senegal's democracy and institutions, reinforcing its democratic tradition. The Senegalese electoral commission, civil society, and international observers judged the elections to have been democratic and transparent, with few incidents. We will continue to work with the Senegalese government, international partners and civil society to support Senegal's stability, prosperity and sustainable development.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what steps his Department is taking to support free, fair and peaceful elections in Senegal.

Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)

Peaceful, free and credible elections are essential to Senegal's stability. Our Ambassador and Embassy in Dakar regularly engage with the Senegalese Government and civil society groups, together with international partners to reinforce these messages. The Embassy coordinated closely with international partners to observe the Senegalese Presidential elections, including by sending diplomatic staff as observers to polling stations across the country. British Embassy Dakar have also supported civil society groups through ODA programme funding to strengthen democratic practices, specifically media freedom during the elections period.

Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether his Department has had recent discussions with Royal Mail on taking steps to help ensure that (a) election candidates’ freepost items and (b) postal vote (i) applications and (ii) ballot papers will be delivered on time.

Answered by Simon Hoare - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN 13601 on 22 February 2024.

I can confirm that – as set out in that answer - I met with the Chief Executive of Royal Mail last month.

Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to the notification provided to his Department and the Electoral Commission from the Returning Officer for Brighton and Hove City Council of the late delivery of 1,423 postal votes in May 2023; if he will place a copy of his response to the Returning Officer in the House of Commons Library; and what steps he has taken to establish the cause of the late delivery of the voting packs.

Answered by Simon Hoare - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)

The Returning Officer for Brighton and Hove City Council is responsible for the conduct of elections to the local council, including the arrangements for the issue and receipt of postal votes. The Government recognises the important role that effective mail deliveries have in the overall running of electoral events, and we work with Royal Mail nationally to ensure they have appropriate arrangements in place, though it would not be appropriate for the Secretary of State to take the place of the role of the Returning Officer in relation to a specific, local incident.

This issue was raised on a 'for information' basis in an email to DLUHC, the Electoral Commission and the Association of Electoral Administrators at official level as part of ongoing dialogue on delivery of elections. Royal Mail subsequently investigated the matter, and we understand they responded directly to the Returning Officer in June 2023 with their findings.

Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing an automatic voter registration system for elections.

Answered by Simon Hoare - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)

Individual Electoral Registration (IER), introduced in 2014, brought registering to vote into the 21^st century by making it possible to register to vote online in as little as three minutes. It also ensured that every individual had control and ownership over the process.

The UK Government has no plans to reassess its policy with regards to automatic voter registration, as to do so would risk undermining the principle of individuals taking ownership of registering to vote.

Found: Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Kingdom of Denmark on the Participation in Certain Elections

Found: consulted the Electoral Commission in accordance with section 7(1) and (2)(e) of the Political Parties, Elections

It has been more than a decade since we were last given the chance to change the way we vote. We think it’s time we got better representation in Parliament and that the current system has produced only chaos, where two parties rule.

Found: Hold a referendum on using Alternative Vote (AV) for general elections

Found: regard to the public interest in balancing freedom of speech while preserving the integrity of elections

Found: Widen the byelaw-making power to enable byelaws to cover To provide more flexibility in how elections

Found: regard to the public interest in balancing freedom of speech while preserving the integrity of elections

Found: regard to the public interest in balancing freedom of speech while preserving the integrity of elections

Found: regard to the public interest in balancing freedom of speech while preserving the integrity of elections

Found: Millions of voters go to the polls in elections, in the UK and elsewhere across our region.

Found: Madam Chair, as North Macedonia heads to the polls for presidential and parliamentary elections in the

Found: with the SRSG constructively, and without preconditions, to resolve the outstanding issues delaying elections

Found: Response: Elections (e.g., in June 2024), followed by a (prolonged) period of caretaker government can

Found: ... ................................ ................................ ........ 8 District Council Elections

Found: Regulator’s inquiry finds former trustees failed to hold trustee elections

Found: held in which they discussed – Staff changes withing the Engagement and Siting team Effects of local elections

Found: statistics, UK: December 2023 Electoral registrations for Parliamentary and local government elections

Found: consulted the Electoral Commission in accordance with section 7(1) and (2)(e) of the Political Parties, Elections

Found: Hoare MP to Hansard Editors regarding correction to a remark made during a debate on the conduct of elections

Found: under its remit and agreed to draw it to the attention of the Parliament: •Scottish Local Government Elections

Found: Penny Curtis Deputy Director Elections and FOI Directorate for Constitution Scottish Government

Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the anticipated local government elections in 2027, what information it has on when any work to redraw mainland council wards will commence.

Answered by Adam, George - Minister for Parliamentary Business

Boundaries Scotland has the statutory responsibility to review the electoral arrangements for local government areas. In line with the requirements of the Local Government Act 1973, Boundaries Scotland must submit to Scottish Ministers a report on its review of the electoral arrangements for a local government area no more than 15 years after the previous report for that area was submitted. Boundaries Scotland is currently conducting the Second Review of Scottish Parliament Boundaries, and will report to Ministers by 1 May 2025. Work to review council wards will recommence once this review has been submitted. The Scottish Elections (Representation and Reform) Bill proposes an amendment to the deadline by which Boundaries Scotland must complete the next local government reviews, from 31 December 2028 to 30 April 2031. This is to align the 15-year period between reviews with the five-year local government election cycle.