The Electoral Commission has launched a consultation and issues paper on the future shape of electoral administration in the UK.

The consultation follows an Electoral Commission report published in December 2007, which found that in many areas the delivery of electoral administration was stretched to breaking point. 

It identified that amongst the factors that need to be addressed were the fragmented and complex legal framework for electionss looking at what it calls aa”complicated, opaque and inconsistent” funding arrangements for elections and electoral registration  and the lack of consistency across the UK in the standards of elections management.

The report also acknowledged that there had been a piecemeal approach to changes in electoral administration in the last ten years.

This issues paper on the consultation, which is available here, is the first stage of the Electoral Commission’s commitment to carry out a detailed examination of electoral administration across the UK, to address these challenges, and to consider how the underlying structures that support elections can be improved.

Andy O’Neill, the head of the Electoral Commission in Scotland, said: “While our independent review of the Scottish elections in 2007 by Ron Gould has already prompted debate we’re keen to move the discussion forward and identify the functions and principles of effective electoral administration that will deliver a first class service to electors and candidates.  This is the first step we’re taking in that process to stimulate debate and discussion around issues impacting electoral administration. 

“We want those with an interest in well run elections to engage with this debate about the need for change and give us their ideas on how we can deliver a system of electoral administration which serves the interests of the voter with impartiality and transparency.”

Views and evidence should be submitted to the Electoral Commission by Friday 23 May 2008, and the initial findings from this consultation will be published in summer 2008.