Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Assistant Director for Legal & Democratic Governance.

The report updates the Scrutiny Committee on the impact of the Voter ID requirements in relation to the number of residents unable to vote in the three elections which took place in 2024; namely the Local Elections and GM Combined Authority Mayoral Election in May 2024 and the Parliamentary Election in 2024.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to note and comment upon the report.

Officer contact: Vicki Bates on 0161 474 3219 or email vicki.bates@stockport.gov.uk 

The Assistant Director for Legal & Democratic Governance submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) updating the Scrutiny Committee on the impact of the Voter ID requirements in relation to the number of residents unable to vote in the three elections which took place in 2024; namely the Local Elections and GM Combined Authority Mayoral Election in May 2024 and the Parliamentary Election in 2024.

The Cabinet Member for Finance & Resources (Councillor Jilly Julian) attended the meeting to respond to councillor’s questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised: -

·         Members commented favourably upon the work of the council’s Elections team noting in particular the work undertaken to encourage Stockport’s residents to use their vote in the recent elections.

·         Members noted that, of those people who turned up to a polling station to vote without a correct ID, over 68 per cent returned with ID in order to cast their vote.

·         It was not possible to determine how many people did not vote because of the voter ID requirements.

·         In terms of voter authority certificates, applications were processed locally at Stockport Town Hall, but certificates were issued by a centrally appointed supplier. The council had information on the numbers of applications which were rejected. The data was held on the national portal and further information for the reasons for rejected applications would be requested.

·         It would not be possible to determine whether voters had turned up without ID on more than one occasion because, by law, that data had to be destroyed post election.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.