Issue - meetings

Notice of Motion - Cllr A Kirby - Freedom to Vote by Post

Meeting: 14/10/2021 - Council (Item 7)

Notice of Motion - Cllr A Kirby - Freedom to Vote by Post EXE21-081

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Council had before it the recommendation of the Executive in respect of Councillor Kirby’s notice of motion on the freedom to vote by post.  The Executive had been advised that the matters raised by the Motion were the personal responsibility of the Returning Officer and that the Council was not able to determine or influence the process.  The Executive had not been supportive of Councillor Kirby’s Motion in the form submitted but had agreed that the support for the actions taken by the Electoral Registration Officer should be noted.  An amended form of wording had therefore been proposed, as follows:

“Freedom to vote by post

This Council believes that democracy is best secured by maximising electoral turnout and participation, as much as that democracy must start by more literally securing residents’ votes.

It is therefore with regret that this Council notes the proportion of people voting by post in the Borough did not rise between 2019 and 2021, despite this year’s elections being the first to be held since the arrival of Covid-19. Despite the understandable caution from residents around in-person events – and for many even medically-advised isolation – the proportion of local people voting by post in fact fell.

In light of these facts, this Council recognises its responsibility to better uphold and inspire democratic participation through challenging times.

This Council also recognises the importance and legal status of the fully independent Electoral Commission. Equally this Council notes the importance of our independent Electoral Registration Officer, responsible for upholding the Electoral Commission’s advice, and welcomes our new Chief Executive to this role.

This Council notes that Woking Borough is an outlier in asking residents already on the electoral register for photo-identification in order to support their application for a postal vote, contrary to official guidance and legal requirements as set out by the Electoral Commission.

Therefore, this Council resolves to:

1)      Support the Electoral Registration Officer in reflecting the latest exact wording as recommended by the Electoral Commission on its own website, when describing the process of registering to vote by post, on all relevant communications whether in print, digital or in person.

2)      Remove from general council communications all other suggestion of restriction, advice to follow legally unnecessary steps, or any other effective impediment created by the Council’s advice or processes, on the ability of residents to register for a postal vote.

3)      Support the Electoral Registration Officer by proactively communicating the existing legal reality of postal registration requirements to residents, via all Council-controlled media channels and to issue a public statement to all local media on behalf of this Full Council, clarifying the exact contents of this motion.

4)      Note the actions already taken by the Returning Officer in section 2 of her report to the Elections and Electoral Registration Panel dated 23 August 2021 in the matter of Absent Voter Registrations.

5)      Continue to run elections with regard to the fundamental principles of elections open to all and free from fraud.”

The Council welcomed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7


Meeting: 09/09/2021 - Executive (Item 7)

7 Notice of Motion - Cllr A Kirby - Freedom to Vote by Post EXE21-081 pdf icon PDF 75 KB

Reporting Person – Corporate Leadership Team

Additional documents:

Minutes:

At its meeting on 29 July 2021, the Council referred the following Notice of Motion to the Executive.

Councillor A Kirby

“Freedom to vote by post

This Council believes that democracy is best secured by maximising electoral turnout and participation, as much as that democracy must start by more literally securing residents’ votes.

It is therefore with regret that this Council notes the proportion of people voting by post in the Borough did not rise between 2019 and 2021, despite this year’s elections being the first to be held since the arrival of Covid-19.  Despite the understandable caution from residents around in-person events – and for many even medically-advised isolation – the proportion of local people voting by post in fact fell.

In light of these facts, this Council recognises its responsibility to better uphold and inspire democratic participation through challenging times.  This Council also recognises the importance and legal status of the fully independent Electoral Commission.

This Council notes that Woking Borough is an outlier in asking residents already on the electoral register for photo-identification in order to support their application for a postal vote, contrary to official guidance and legal requirements as set out by the Electoral Commission.

Therefore, this Council resolves to:

1)      Reflect the latest exact wording used by the Electoral Commission on its own website, when describing the process of registering to vote by post, on all relevant communications whether in print, digital or in person.

2)      Remove all other restrictions, suggestion of restriction, advice to follow legally unnecessary steps, or any other effective impediment created by the Council’s advice or processes, on the ability of residents to register for a postal vote.

3)      Proactively communicate this change to residents, via all Council-controlled media channels and to issue a public statement to all local media on behalf of this Full Council, clarifying the change and the exact contents of this motion.”

Following the meeting of Council on 29 July 2021, Councillor Kirby requested some changes to the Motion (shown in bold in the revised Motion below) in order to reflect the importance of the Chief Executive’s role as Electoral Registration Officer and the role’s independence in light of the electoral law and Electoral Commission who are the legal source of authority on the existing rules.

 

Revised Motion:

Councillor A Kirby

“Freedom to vote by post

This Council believes that democracy is best secured by maximising electoral turnout and participation, as much as that democracy must start by more literally securing residents’ votes.

It is therefore with regret that this Council notes the proportion of people voting by post in the Borough did not rise between 2019 and 2021, despite this year’s elections being the first to be held since the arrival of Covid-19.  Despite the understandable caution from residents around in-person events – and for many even medically-advised isolation – the proportion of local people voting by post in fact fell.

In light of these facts, this Council recognises its responsibility to better uphold and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7