Written questions by Hollinrake.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what data the Electoral Commission holds on levels of electoral fraud, broken down by local authority area.

The Electoral Commission collects data on allegations of electoral fraud from all police forces across the UK, and publishes data on its website annually. Due to the way data is provided, it is broken down by police force, not by local authority. The Commission expects to publish 2025 electoral fraud data by the end of March.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what guidance the Electoral Commission has produced on treating in elections.

The Commission’s guidance for candidates and agents includes an overview of electoral offences. It sets out that a person is guilty of treating if either before, during or after an election they directly or indirectly give or provide any food, drink, entertainment or provision to corruptly influence any voter to vote or refrain from voting. Treating requires a corrupt intent, and does not apply to ordinary hospitality.Allegations of treating are a matter for the police; the Commission supports the College of Policing with its guidance for policing elections, which includes information on how offences such as treating are investigated.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the Answer of 29 April 2025 to Question 45681 on Electoral Commission: Companies House, whether the Electoral Commission has used the powers conferred on it under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 in relation to Companies House data to date.

The Electoral Commission has not used the powers conferred on it under the provisions in the Economic Crime and Transparency Act 2023, in relation to the Company House data.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, with reference to the Electoral Commission press release entitled Electoral Commission response to cyber-attack attribution, of 25 March 2024, whether the cyber-attack compromised data other than the electoral registers; and whether it included the Electoral Commission's investigatory data.

During the cyber-attack in 2021-2022, hostile actors were active in the Electoral Commission’s systems which held our email, our control systems, and copies of the electoral registers. The Commission cannot be certain whether any data was copied or downloaded.Information, evidence and analysis relating to investigatory matters, along with donations and loans data was held in a separate system not affected by the attack.The Commission has now significantly strengthened its systems against cyber-attacks and has secured Cyber Essentials Plus accreditation.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, whether the Electoral Commission has provided guidance on requirements for candidates for election to report cryptocurrency donations in their Representation of the People Act returns.

The Electoral Commission’s guidance states that candidates must report all monetary and non-monetary donations they accept or return as impermissible, including donations in crypto assets. The Commission will shortly publish updated guidance for parties and candidates on the reporting and valuation of donations in crypto assets.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, Pursuant to the answer of 10 December 2025, to Question 97532, on Local Government: Elections, when the Electoral Commission was informed by the Government of the decision to cancel the 2026 mayoral elections.

The Commission was first made aware of the UK Government’s proposals on the same day as the publication of the Secretary of State’s written ministerial statement on 4 December 2025.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, whether the Electoral Commission would request information on the type of cryptocurrency used to make political donations when such donations are reported to the Commission.

In line with guidance issued by HMRC and the Financial Conduct Authority, donations in crypto assets are treated as non-monetary donations. Recipients are required to identify the nature of non-monetary donations. For crypto assets, this means identifying the type and amount of crypto asset. This will be underlined in the forthcoming update to the Commission’s guidance.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the written statement of 4 December 2025, HCWS1128, on Devolution Priority Programme, whether the Government consulted the Electoral Commission on the cancellation of the 2026 mayoral elections.

The Electoral Commission was not consulted by the Government regarding the timing of mayoral elections in 2026.The Commission’s view is that scheduled elections should only be postponed in exceptional circumstances. Voters must have a say on those that represent them at local government, and county council elections are still scheduled to take place in these areas in May 2026.The Commission will work with the Government to better understand its plans for the polls so that it can support voters, campaigners and administrators to prepare.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, Pursuant to the answer of 13 November 2025, to Question 88726, on Local Government: Reorganisation, whether the Government has told the Electoral Commission if it intends to cancel any of the scheduled local elections in May 2026, other than the Surrey councils.

The Electoral Commission has not been told that any further elections scheduled for May 2026 will be postponed, other than the elections for Surrey County and District councils. The Commission is working with the Government and will continue to support the electoral community as it prepares for scheduled elections in May 2026.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, on how many occasions has the Electoral Commission issued a (a) disclosure notice or (b) inspection notice under Schedule 19B of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000; and how many times has it obtained an inspection warrant over the period for which records are centrally held.

The Commission is required to report on its use of investigatory powers, including disclosure notices, investigation notices, and applications for inspection warrants. These are published in the Commission’s Annual Reports and Accounts.The Commission has reported that it issued eight disclosure notices and 50 investigation notices since its investigatory powers came into force in December 2010. It has not applied for an inspection warrant. A breakdown by year is in the table below.The Commission only uses its investigatory powers where it is satisfied that it is necessary and proportionate to do so. In most investigations, it receives relevant information on a voluntary basis.Use of investigatory powers, by financial yearYearDisclosure notices Investigation noticesInspection warrant applications2011-120002012-130002013-140002014-152002015-162502016-1731602017-1801402018-1901002019-201002020-210002021-220302022-230002023-240102024-25010

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, whether any local government boundary restructuring exercises have been (a) cancelled and (b) paused by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England as a result of potential unitary local government restructuring; and whether the Commission has had discussions with the Government on the potential (a) cancellation and (b) postponement of scheduled local elections in May 2026.

In February 2025, following the issuing of a statutory invitation to submit unitary proposals to all two-tier authorities, the Local Government Boundary Commission for England took the decision to pause all live reviews in those areas.In total, 40 reviews have been paused as a result. No reviews have been cancelled as a result of local government reorganisation.The Commission has had no discussions with the Government on the potential for cancellation or postponement of the local elections scheduled for May 2026.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what information the Speaker's Committee holds on whether the Electoral Commission has held discussions with the Government on the length of time councillors will have remained in post during the process of unitary local government restructuring.

The Electoral Commission has had discussions with MHCLG officials about the proposals for local government reorganisation and the implications for elections.The Commission has said that delaying elections for more than one year can affect the legitimacy of local decision making and risks damaging public confidence. Scheduled polls should only be postponed in exceptional circumstances when no alternative options are available.The Commission understands the Government is working with councils on their reorganisation plans, and in the meantime, continues to support the electoral community as it prepares for the scheduled polls next May.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what guidance the Election Commission has issued to Electoral Registration Officers on the declarations that a potential elector must make to enter onto the electoral roll.

The Electoral Commission has issued guidance on the declarations required to Electoral Registration Officers. All electors must make a declaration that the contents of their application to register are true. This can include a declaration of local connection, if a person does not have a fixed or permanent address.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the Answer of 11 September 2025 to Question 76017 on Electoral Register, whether the Electoral Commission has issued guidance to Electoral Registration Officers on whether a voter can meet the residency requirements by having a permanent residence in three different dwellings in three different local authority areas.

The Electoral Commission's guidance for Electoral Registration Officer’s (EROs) sets out that someone may be eligible to register and to vote at more than one address if the ERO finds they meet the residency requirements, alongside the other usual registration conditions. When considering an application to register a person at a secondary address the ERO should take into account why the voter is present at that address, to establish if they may be deemed resident there. Each case should be considered on its own merits.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what assessment the Electoral Commission has made of the security of the ballot for early voting pilot schemes.

The Electoral Commission evaluated a small number of early voting pilots in Wales as part of the local council elections in May 2022. There are several potential integrity challenges presented by managing voting over multiple days. These include, ensuring ballot box security overnight and managing the risk of double voting risk.During the pilots, the Electoral Commission found that Returning Officers and their teams managed risks well, working alongside the police. No concerns were raised with the Returning Officers in relation to the integrity of the polls in the pilot areas by the police or by political parties and candidates.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what discussions the Electoral Commission has had with the Government on the use of pilot voting schemes in the May 2026 local elections in England.

The Electoral Commission has had discussions with Government on its proposals for pilot voting schemes at the May 2026 local elections in England.The Commission’s research shows people in the UK are generally happy with the current ways of voting in person at elections. But it is important to look at how to keep improving elections, to meet the changing needs of voters and to make sure voting is as convenient and accessible as possible.The Commission will support local authorities taking part in the pilots as needed, and work to ensure voters are aware of the voting options available to them. It also has a statutory duty to independently evaluate and report on the May 2026 pilot schemes.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what estimate the Electoral Commission has made of the number of spoilt votes under the supplementary vote electoral system.

The last set of elections held under the supplementary vote electoral system were the local government and PCC elections in May 2021. The percentage of rejected ballot papers at those elections was higher than at elections using first past the post in the same year: 0.8% for the local government elections compared to 2.7% for the PCC and 4.3% for Mayor of London.The Commission’s report following the elections noted that the number of rejected ballot papers for the Mayor of London election was notably higher than it had been at previous elections. The most significant difference compared to previous elections was the record 20 candidates which had led to a new two-column ballot paper design to accommodate electronic counting requirements. The report emphasised that clear and effective ballot paper design is essential to help voters cast their votes correctly. It recommended that alternative ballot paper designs should be tested in advance of future elections.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what guidance the Electoral Commission has issued to local authorities on the provision to political parties of the expiry dates of postal voting mandates for individual electors with postal votes.

Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) are required by law to identify postal voters whose absent voting arrangements will expire on 31 January each year. These voters must be notified directly by the ERO that their current arrangement is ending and that they will need to submit a new postal vote application if they wish to continue voting by post.While political parties are entitled to receive absent voting lists, the expiry date of a postal vote does not form part of the absent voting record. As such, there is no provision for EROs to share this information.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what guidance the Electoral Commission has issued on whether an elector can vote in three different localities.

The Electoral Commission's guidance for Electoral Registration Officer's (EROs) sets out that someone may be eligible to register and to vote at more than one address if the ERO finds they meet the residency requirements, alongside the other usual registration conditions.For local, Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) and mayoral elections, some voters may be entitled to vote in more than one area, provided the addresses are in different council, PCC or mayoral areas. This only applies to voters who have permanent residence in more than one location, for example students and those with multiple homes. In each case, voters may be able to demonsrate the extent to which the address is their permanent address. It is an offence for someone to cast more than one vote on their own behalf in a UK Parliamentary general election or referendum.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the Answer of 18 June 2025 to Question 59356 on Political Parties: Finance, whether political parties can accept the donation in kind of research services from an organisation where that research is ultimately funded by foreign donors.

Political parties may only accept donations, including donations in kind of research services, from permissible sources. However, there are currently no restrictions on where donors themselves raise funds. The Commission has highlighted this weakness in the political finance regime, and recommended changes that would safeguard the system.