The Electoral Commission is a non-departmental public body with powers in the United Kingdom, which was created by an Act of Parliament, the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (2000 c. 41). In 2002 the Boundary Committee for England became a statutory committee of the commission.

The commission is responsible for:

• advising the government on the reform of electoral law
• working with the Boundary Committee in determining the boundaries of Council Wards and Divisions, in accordance with statutory guidelines
• deciding the procedures for all referendums held in the UK
• ensuring that all national and local elections are fully free and fair
• regulating political parties, including maintaining a register of political parties for the United Kingdom, and the funding of political campaigns
• promoting public awareness of electoral systems in use in the United Kingdom

The commissioners are:

• Sam Younger - Chairman
• Ian Kelsall CBE
• John McCormick
• Karamjit Singh CBE
• Henrietta Campbell CB
• Max Caller CBE

Peter Wardle is the Chief Executive

2006 electoral trials

At the May 2006 local elections, 15 pilot schemes took place in 21 local authority areas across England:

Brent; Brentwood; Broxbourne; Gateshead, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, South Tyneside and Sunderland; Harrow; Knowsley, Liverpool, St Helens and Sefton; Lewisham; Newham; Peterborough; Rushmoor; Shrewsbury and Atcham; Stevenage; Stratford-on-Avon; Swindon; and Westminster

Schemes included:

• Voting at supermarkets
• Postal vote signature checking
• Providing signatures in polling stations
• Early voting
• Electronic counting

See also

• Elections in the United Kingdom
• Referendums in the United Kingdom

External links

• The Electoral Commission