Ministry of Justice
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Wills announces election day consultation
A consultation on whether to move elections to weekends has been launched as part of efforts to boost engagement in the democratic process.
Scrapping the traditional Thursday vote is one option under consideration as part of the Government's programme of constitutional renewal, which seeks to forge a new relationship between the citizen and the state.
Michael Wills, Constitutional Renewal Minister, said:
"Decisions are made by those who vote. The Government wants to make it easier for people to turn up to vote. As part of this process, we want to look at different options for the day on which elections take place.
"The reason elections are traditionally held on Thursdays is obscure. We should not be afraid to try a new voting day that fits in better with people's busy lives, while also recognising the constraints of money and belief."
The consultation debates moving the day of elections for general, local and European elections from Thursdays to the weekend and considers:
* whether changing election day to the weekend, and other measures to increase convenience, encourage non-voters to vote
* the practical issues, including the cost, of a move to weekend voting
* religious concerns
* whether the change of day would affect the security of elections
* the relationship between postal and online voting and turnout
* whether other ways of voting (e.g. remote, postal, internet and advance voting) are acceptable where weekend voting is difficult for religious or other reasons
* the benefits and drawbacks of online voting
* other ways of increasing the legitimacy of elections.
The election day consultation will run for 12 weeks. Responses will lead to a citizens' summit later this year, at which people will be invited to consider the issue and make a recommendation to the Government on whether election day should be moved. The Government will then consider the summit's recommendation along with the evidence gathered from the written consultation.
Notes to Editors
1. The election day consultation paper can be seen at: http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/cp1308.htm.
2. The Written Ministerial Statement can be seen at: http://www.justice.gov.uk/news/announcement240608a.htm.
3. The Governance of Britain Green Paper, published in July 2007, can be seen at: http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/governanceofbritain.htm.
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