§ The Minister for Local Government and the Regions (Mr. Nick Raynsford)The Government is looking at many ways, including e-voting, to modernise our electoral system and to increase the opportunities that people have to vote. To test the robustness of the new options and to build public confidence in them, we are continuing to promote an extensive programme of pilot innovations at local elections.
61WSIn September we, in conjunction with the Electoral Commission and the Local Government Association, published a prospectus inviting applications from English and Welsh local authorities to apply to run electoral pilots at local elections in 2003. The closing date for applications to run pilots in the May 2003 local elections was 29 November 2002.
Today I am able to announce that I have accepted 41 applications to hold non e-voting pilots at the May 2003 local elections. The names of the successful local authorities and the type of pilot that they are planning to hold are listed at the end of this statement. The next step will be for us, working with authorities and in consultation with the Electoral Commission, to draw up the statutory orders authorising the pilots.
I am pleased that, following consultation with the independent Electoral Commission, we are able to take forward so many applications. The standard of applications demonstrates the commitment of local authorities to meeting the Government's exacting requirements. These pilots are an important step towards making elections more relevant, straightforward and accessible for voters.
Of 41 applications accepted, 33 involve all-postal ballots. Five applications include e-counting, three in combination with an all-postal ballot. Three authorities plan to extend the voting hours, including voting on a number of days before the main polling day of 1 May. The other 4 applications are to pilot changes to ballot papers and their administration. Altogether, these pilots will cover 4.8 million electors.
We expect to announce in mid-January which of the applications to hold e-voting pilots at the May 2003 local elections have been accepted.
All-Postal Pilots Total: 30
- Blackpool Borough Council
- Blyth Valley Borough Council
- Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council
- Brighton & Hove City Council
- Chesterfield Borough Council
- Corby Borough Council
- Darlington Borough Council
- Doncaster Borough Council
- East Staffordshire Borough Council
- Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council
- Guildford Borough Council Herefordshire Council
- Hyndburn Borough Council
- Borough Council of King's Lynn & West Norfolk
- City of Lincoln Council
- Newcastle City Council
- North Lincolnshire Council
- North Shropshire District Council
- Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council
- Rushcliffe Borough Council
- Rutland County Council District Council
- City of Salford Council
- Sedgefield Borough Council
- St. Edmundsbury Borough Council
- Stevenage Borough Council
62WS - Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council
- Sunderland City Council
- Borough of Telford & Wrekin Council
- Trafford Borough Council
- Wansbeck District Council
All-Postal & E-Counting Pilots Total: 3
- Derwentside, Chester-le-Street, and Wear Valley
- District Councils (joint application)
- Redcar & Cleveland Council
- St. Helens Council
E-Counting Pilots Total: 1
- Broxbourne Borough Council
Other Pilots (with traditional elections) Total: 7
- Borough of Charnwood Council: Watermark on ballot paper
- Manchester City Council: Automated issue of postal ballot papers
- Medway Council: Extended voting hours
- North Kesteven District Council: Ballot paper changes and limited mobile voting
- North West Leicestershire District Council: Watermark on ballot paper
- South Oxfordshire District Council: Extended voting hours and limited e-counting
- Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead Council: Extended voting hours and early mobile voting