Thread by @allthecitizens

🚨 The #ElectionsBill that undermines Elections and Democracy

What has the government been up to sneakily? 🧐

A THREAD.

https://twitter.com/BestForBritain/status/1519343261810319361?s=20&t=foLpzVQDNdWre0xk0pHuWA

Elections bill was supposed to look after the “administration and conduct of elections” & strengthen “the integrity of the electoral process”. But this Bill (now Act) undermines both the Electoral Commission that looks after this process & principles of free & fair elections /2

After going through the Commons, the controversial bill reached the Lords. On Monday, Lords voted to remove some of the provisions in the bill that were deemed harmful and which undermined the Electoral Commission’s independence. /3
theguardian.com/politics/2022/…

But the govt sent the bill with the controversial provisions back to the Lords within two days of this happening, catching opposition parties off guard before the session closes next week. And the bill has sailed through and has now become law. /4

https://twitter.com/jonlis1/status/1519424060232458240?s=20&t=V0LT_hmZz12ziFBZJbne5g

What are the issues with it?

First, it introduces the req of a mandatory photo ID- a move that will exclude 2 million people from voting. This has been described by Liberty as “a solution in search of a problem” since there is no voter fraud prob /5
theguardian.com/commentisfree/…

Secondly, it majorly attacks the Electoral Commission’s independence, with the law making space for more government interference in the commission’s workings. @kyletaylor of @fairvoteuk says that these measures “can effectively rig elections rules in favour” of ministers. /6

With this law, the govt can dictate the “Commission's priorities” & a minister will be appointed who “oversees and scrutinises the work of the Commission”. This totally flips the power dynamics since the EC is supposed to the body providing oversight. /7
independent.co.uk/news/uk/politi…

So while this law excludes voters & undermines the EC, it does not attempt to solve any of the actual problems that do exist, like the issue of foreign donations, or that of requirement of voter registration that creates friction in the voting process. /8

Instead, it undermines democracy and democratic institutions and serves the Conservatives in their power grab. /9
lgcplus.com/politics/gover…