Last month I spoke at the prestigious Korean Civic Institute for Democracy in Seoul as part of their annual International Symposium on Civic Education. I presented a paper which gave a critical overview of the UK's increasingly complex system of electoral governance. Electoral Governance and the Quality of Democracy in the United Kingdom Comments on the…Read more UK electoral governance: a critical overview
election administration
Why we should keep postal voting in the UK
Richard Mawrey QC claimed yesterday that postal voting was 'not viable' in the UK yesterday. I written a blog post for Eastminster and the Democratic Audit which has been published today, offering a reply, and explaining why we should not be so hasty to scrap it. Similar arguments were raised today in separate posts from Stephen…Read more Why we should keep postal voting in the UK
Labour announces good news for British elections?
Voter registration is a problem in the UK. Approximately one in five citizens are not on the electoral register. When it is reported that only 65% of registered people voted at the 2010 general election, we forget those people who are not on the register in the first place.The Guardian is today reporting that Labour…Read more Labour announces good news for British elections?
A blueprint for fixing elections? The Presidential Commission on Election Administration publishes its report
The US Presidential Commission on Election Administration has today published its report on how long-running problems with American elections can be fixed. It has claimed that: 'problems that hinder the efficient administration of elections are both identifiable and solvable. The whole report can be downloaded here. Here were my suggestions: https://www.supportthevoter.gov/2013/10/24/what-the-presidential-commission-can-learn-from-the-united-kingdom-about-improving-elections/
Voter ID in Britain? A Note of Caution from Academic Research
Voter ID in Britain is being put forward to fix the problem of voter fraud. Toby James claims that there is little evidence of widespread voter fraud. Rather, research shows that voter identification requirements might restrict turnout unevenly across British society and is the policy option that is likely to be considered strategically by the…Read more Voter ID in Britain? A Note of Caution from Academic Research
Election 2012 shows that problems with US election administration remain
Barack Obama has been re-elected as President of the United States. Thankfully, there is a winner with a significant margin meaning that there is not a repeat of 2000. Twelve years ago the result was decided by the US Supreme Court after the controversy over 'hanging chads' and 'butterfly ballots' in Florida.However, had the election…Read more Election 2012 shows that problems with US election administration remain
Toby S. James 