Agenda item

To consider a report from Electoral Services containing a review of the 2023 election and also additional information on plans for voter validation in the future.

The report of the Director of Communities, Housing and Environment provided an update on Voter participation May 2023, Voter ID, Changes to the postal and proxy voting application process and the outcome of the Parliamentary boundary review following a request for an Electoral Services Update from the Board.

The following were in attendance for this item:

• John Mulcahy, Chief Officer Elections and Regulatory
• Sue Wolfe, Deputy Head of Electoral Services
• Cllr Coupar, Executive Member for Resources

The Board was given a presentation which focussed on the following main areas:

• The impact of the pandemic on postal voter numbers in Leeds and subsequent impact on footfall in polling stations, Leeds has the largest number of postal voters of any local authority in England.
• Further information showing that Leeds has always had a large number of postal voters and how the peak of postal voting following and during the pandemic is beginning to ease with more people attending a polling station compared to 2021 and 2022.
• Comparative data showing the percentage of voters unable to vote, with Leeds performing well in comparison to other core cities, with just 0.29% of voters attending a polling station unable to vote due to the new voter ID requirements.
• Plans to focus resource in wards where voter ID issues were most prevalent in future years to increase awareness.

In response to questions and comments from the Board, discussion included the following:

• The Board were keen to thank Electoral Services for the communications campaign that led into the 2023 election in Leeds ensuring that residents were aware of the new voter ID regulations.
• Reference was made to accessibility of voting following the voter ID changes particularly for ethnically diverse communities and those with disabilities. The Board were informed that whilst polling stations are as accessible as possible no record of those that have voted in terms of demographic details is kept, due to it being a secret ballot.
• In response to queries about ‘greeters’ at polling stations and the potential for these to skew the number of people who are recorded as not being able to vote, Members were informed that ‘greeters’ were not used in Leeds so there would be no impact on the figures for the city.
• Members were concerned that the wards with the highest number of voter refusals because of ID were focussed in areas with diverse communities and where relative deprivation levels are highest both in terms of those being initially refused and then not returning to vote. Overall Leeds had a very low refusal rate, 225 in total across Leeds. However, an action plan will be drawn up based on the data from the elections and resources and communications will be targeted at those areas where there were the highest number of refusals.
• A small correction was advised at paragraph 4.3 linked to different figures in the report. It was agreed that the figures will be checked, and correct ones circulated as appropriate.
• Members asked about postal votes where the voter has made a mistake and the ballot is ‘spoiled’ and also where the voter has not received the postal vote. The Board were informed of plans for those voters where the postal vote has not been received, resources allowing, to hand deliver postal votes to people who are in this situation so that they are able to vote.
• The new constituency boundaries were queried with a particular focus on cross border co-operation with other authorities that will now ‘share’ a parliamentary constituency with Leeds. The Board were assured that work is underway on this and that Leeds has experience with this having worked with Wakefield City Council on a shared constituency in the past. Similarly working groups are in place to ensure co-ordination when there is more than one election on the same day, for example WYCA mayoral elections.
• The Board welcomed the suggestion of bringing back action planning for the Local Elections in 2024 to set out how the service is trying to improve awareness of the Voter ID requirements and other planning.
• The Chair asked about the robustness of resources to deal with postal voting given the increased number now using that method. He was reassured about arrangements and additional staffing that is available to ensure that the postal voting experience runs smoothly.

Cllr Coupar, the Executive Board Member for Resources, highlighted that the work in Leeds had received ministerial recognition at meetings she attended in the build up to the Election in 2023 and wanted to put on record her thanks to Electoral Services for the work they did to deliver a successful Election. The Executive Member also expressed concerns about the Voter ID changes at a higher profile Elections such as the expected General Election in 2024.

RESOLVED – To note the content of the report and

a)  Consider an item on planning for the Election in 2024 as part of the Board’s work programme in 2023/24.