Thread by @alanjrenwick

The early election bill looks likely to go through without any changes to the campaign rules, even though those rules are near-universally seen as no longer fit for purpose. Here are some thoughts on key problems we need to look out for. (1/11)

First, overviews:

"Electoral law is not fit for purpose" @CommonsCMS

"electoral law is increasingly complex and outdated, and presents real risks" @ElectoralCommUK

"Electoral reform is needed urgently as the current system is no longer fit for purpose" @AEA_Elections (2/11)

And one more, from the UK's leading fact-checker, just last week:

"We need emergency legislation before we next head to the polls." @FullFact (3/11)

The top issue is that digital campaign materials must be required to show who produced them, just as printed materials have for decades, so campaigners can be held to account. Govt has agreed this should be done, but is yet to act. (4/11)

publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cm…

Related to this, all online campaign literature must be visible to everyone, to end 'dark ads'. Tech companies have recently set up ad archives, but these are patchy and give limited information, especially on constituency targeting. (5/11)

facebook.com/ads/library/

Campaign finance rules need to be tightened too, to improve transparency of spending, choke off foreign funding, and sharpen the Electoral Commission's teeth. (6/11)

electoralcommission.org.uk/who-we-are-and…

Alongside transparency, steps should be taken to protect candidates and their agents from harassment and undue intrusion - including by allowing non-disclosure of addresses. (7/11)

aea-elections.co.uk/wp-content/upl…

Urgent action is also needed to prevent disfranchisement of overseas electors, who are often prevented from getting their votes back in time by the antiquated postal voting system. (8/11)

electoralcommission.org.uk/who-we-are-and…

A final key issue is quality information. Govt says it wants to "promote fact-based and open discourse, including online", but hasn't said how. Sterling work is being done e.g. by @democlub, @FullFact and broadcasters, but much more is needed. (9/11)

constitution-unit.com/2019/10/28/is-…

My report with @MichelaPalese on ways to improve information in election and referendum campaigns - summarised (and linked) here - argued for a paradigm shift in how we run elections, to focus on ensuring voters have the info they want. (10/11)

constitution-unit.com/2019/03/07/doi…

Without new rules in place, all of us - candidates, campaigners, journalists, experts, regular voters - bear responsibility for making the campaign as fair and thoughtful as possible. Let's all reward quality argument, and not fall prey to misinformation and deception. (11/11)