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UK Parliament

Elections Bill completes passage through Parliament

28 April 2022

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The Elections Bill received Royal Assent and became an Act of Parliament on 28 April 2022.

During its passage through the House of Lords, members asked the government to think again on a number of topics, including:

  • closing loopholes to stop foreign influence on third-party campaigning

  • enabling independent and secret voting by voters who are blind or partially-sighted or have another disability

  • requiring the Electoral Commission to publish a code of practice relating to controlled expenditure of third parties. 

What happened during House of Lords scrutiny of the draft law?

The bill was considered by the House of Lords between 23 February and 25 April before passing to the House of Commons for consideration of Lords amendments.

Consideration of Commons amendments: Wednesday 27 April

Members of the Lords considered Commons changes (amendments) to the bill.

Lords divisions

There were two divisions (votes) on alternative amendments to ones disagreed to by the Commons. 

The amendments were not agreed to, so will not stand as part of the Bill. All other Commons reasons were agreed to without a vote.

Catch up 

What's happened so far?

Report stage day two and third reading: Monday 25 April

Government asked to think again 

Members asked the government to think again on the political independence of the Electoral Commission by agreeing to remove clauses 15 and 16 which required the commission to follow government guidance in a strategy and policy statement. 

Members amendments agreed

The House of Lords agreed without a vote to the following amendments put forward by members:

  • setting the small-parties threshold as £500 for either assets or liabilities

  • requiring the Electoral Commission to publish a code of practice relating to controlled expenditure of third parties.

Government changes agreed

Members agreed to government changes to the bill relating to:

  • allowing the Secretary of State to lay legislation before parliament to amend the list of eligible categories of third party campaigners 

  • leaving out Clause 28 which related to joint campaigning by registered parties and third parties

  • establishing a statutory duty to review the effectiveness of the bill.

Lords divisons

There were three divisions (votes) on proposed amendments to the bill. 

Strategy and policy statement 

The first vote was on amendment 45, which would remove clause 15 which refers to the Electoral Commission’s duty to have regard to the strategy and policy statement.

Members voted 265 in favour and 199 against, so the clause was removed.

Additional votes

There were two additional divisions on proposed amendments, but these changes were not made:

Third reading

Immediately following report stage, third reading a chance for members to ‘tidy up' a bill, making any small changes to ensure it is effective, took place.

No amendments were put forward at third reading, members discussed the progress of the bill through the Lords.

Catch up 

Report stage day one: Wednesday 6 April

Members speaking on day one of report stage put forward amendments (changes) to the bill to be discussed on a range of subjects, including:

  • voter identification requirements
  • postal vote restrictions
  • secrecy of the ballot and family voting.

Members amendments agreed

The House of Lords agreed without a vote to the following amendments put forward by members:

  • enabling or facilitating independent and secret voting by voters who are blind or partially-sighted, or have another disability

  • allowing candidates to use names they are commonly known by on the ballot paper.

Lords divisons

There were four divisions (votes) on proposed amendments to the bill. 

Voter identification

The first vote was on amendment 8, which adds to the list of differing types of identification that are acceptable to enable an individual to vote, including, amongst others, a driving licence, birth certificate, bank statement, council tax demand, P45/P60 or national insurance card.

Members voted 199 in favour and 170 against, so the change was made.

Additional votes

There were additional divisions on proposed amendments, but these changes were not made:

Catch up 

 

Committee stage day six: Monday 28 March

Proposed changes

Members speaking on the sixth and final day of committee stage put forward amendments (changes) to the bill to be discussed.

These amendments covered a range of subjects, including: 

  • rationalising the system to allow EU citizens residing in the UK to vote in UK parliamentary elections

  • ensuring that the right of Commonwealth citizens to vote in UK general elections will in future be confined to citizens of those Commonwealth countries that grant to British citizens the right to vote in their own general elections

  • the disqualification period of elected candidates being found guilty of terrorism offences

  • digital campaigning

  • providing safeguards against the risks of foreign influence in UK Elections.

Catch up

Committee stage day five: Wednesday 23 March

Proposed changes

Members speaking on day five of committee stage put forward amendments (changes) to the bill to be discussed.

These amendments covered a range of subjects, including: 

  • candidate details on ballot papers

  • mayoral election voting systems

  • lowering the voting age to 16

  • allowing prisoners serving a sentence of 12 months or less to vote in UK parliamentary elections

  • automatic voter registration

  • electronic voting

  • protecting the right of people in temporary housing to stand for election

  • returning the election deposits to all general election candidates whose registered party elects at least one MP

  • creation of overseas constituencies.

Catch up

Committee stage day four: Monday 21 March

Proposed changes

Members speaking on day four of committee stage put forward amendments (changes) to the bill to be discussed.

These amendments covered a range of subjects, including: 

  • whether Clause 1, requiring voters in UK parliamentary elections and local elections in England to produce photo ID at polling stations in order to vote, shoud stand as part of the bill

  • guidance given to registration officers in relation to voter ID

  • increasing voter registration levels among private tenants

  • nomination of candidates

  • postal voting.

Catch up

Committee stage day three: Thursday 17 March

Proposed changes

Members speaking on day three of committee stage put forward amendments (changes) to the bill to be discussed.

These amendments covered a range of subjects, including: 

  • rules and regulations relating to non-party organisations and third-party joint campaigning

  • introducing photo ID at polling stations.

Catch up

Committee stage day two: Tuesday 15 March

Proposed changes

Members speaking on day two of committee stage put forward amendments (changes) to the bill to be discussed.

These amendments covered a range of subjects, including: 

  • vote accessibility, inclusivity, independence and secrecy

  • election expenses guidance to candidates 

  • registration processes for political parties.

Catch up

Committee stage day one: Thursday 10 March

Proposed changes

Members speaking on day one of committee stage put forward amendments (changes) to the bill to be discussed.

These amendments covered a range of subjects, including: 

  • the role of the devolved Administrations

  • information to be displayed on poll cards and notices in polling stations regarding voter identification

  • the impact on voter turnout of requiring identification at polling stations by voters

  • the requirement for the Electoral Commission to produce a new strategy and policy statement every two years rather than at least every five years

  • requiring the Secretary of State to publish a strategy for increasing the number of private tenants registered to vote

  • ensuring that no criminal liability arises where information is sought from, or given by, a postal voter at an election for the purposes of an opinion poll or exit poll

  • increasing postal voter turnout at local elections.

Catch up

Second reading: Wednesday 23 February

Members discussed the main issues in the bill during the second reading debate. Subjects included:

  • securing the integrity of elections and restoring constitutional balance

  • responding to increasingly sophisticated threats and combatting electoral fraud

  • the requirement to provide voter ID, including free voter cards made available by local authorities to those electors who require them

  • safeguards against the abuse of postal and proxy voting

  • voting and candidacy rights of EU citizens who reside in the United Kingdom

  • reforming the accountability of the Electoral Commission to the UK Parliament while respecting its operational independence

  • protecting candidates and others from intimidation

  • improving public trust and confidence in digital political campaigns

  • encouraging people to vote, especially young people

  • considering issues for disabled people

  • the benefits and flaws of automatic registration

Members speaking 

Lord True (Conservative), Minister of State in the Cabinet Office, opened the debate and responded on behalf of the government. 

Members speaking in the debate included: 

  • Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts (Conservative), former official reviewer of the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014

  • Lord Judge, Crossbench, former Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales

  • Lord Lipsey (Labour), former chair of Make Votes Count and member of the Independent Commission on the Voting System

  • Lord Stunell (Liberal Democrat), member of the Committee on Standards in Public Life.

Lord Moore of Etchingham (Non-affiliated), visiting fellow at Policy Exchange, made his maiden speech. 

Catch up

Find out more about the issues discussed: catch up on Parliament TV or read the Lords Hansard transcript.

About the bill

The Elections Bill aims to make changes to the administration and conduct of elections.

Explore further information

Read background on the bill in the Lords Library Elections Bill briefing. 

Image: Creative Commons / Pixabay

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Further information