Brighton 2007

Location: Hilton Metropole Hotel, Brighton
Date: 25th February to 28th February 2007
Contact Name: James Stevens
Contact telephone number: 01277 312708
Contact fax number: 01277 312743
Contact email address: james.stevens@aea-elections.co.uk

The Association's 2007 Annual Seminar was held in Brighton during a 4-day period from Sunday 25th February to Wednesday 28th February 2007 and the event marked the Association's 20th anniversary. You can view or download the official brochure by clicking here.

Read the letter received by the Chairman, John Turner, from the Mayor of Brighton by clicking here.

Seminar News

The Mayor of Brighton and Hove, Councillor David Smith, officially opens the Exhibition - introduced by Seminar Organiser, Jim Stevens, escorted by Executive Director (Commercial), Bill Crawford.

Extraordinary General Meeting

The EGM took place on the Sunday evening and was followed by a number of reflections on 20 years, starting with an address given on behalf of Rod Tuck, the Association's Life President, unfortunately absent through illness, by Charles Lasham, one of the original founders of the AEA. This was followed by some words from Richard Soudriette, of IFES, who kindly paid tribute to the AEA and its contribution to global democracy through its liaison with his organisation. The evening concluded with a light-hearted presentation from Charles Lasham, mostly on the founders' attempts at naming the Association!

(left) The Officers listening to Richard Soudriette, (right) AEA Members at the meeting in the Oxford Hall

Bridget Prentice MP

The Minister with John Turner

The Minister was greeted on arrival by Sue Bedford from the Seminar Working Party

Giving the keynote speech to the AEA Annual Conference, Bridget Prentice, Elections Minister at the Department for Constitutional Affairs outlined the challenges we face in ensuring that Electoral Administrators are delivering an effective and efficient service, how the Electoral Administration Act will help deliver this, and what else can be done in the bid to deliver an effective electoral administration service.

The Minister stated that the key to being a successful electoral administration service rests on three fundamental principles:

• A proactive attitude to engaging the electorate
• A strong belief in the importance of maintaining public confidence in the integrity of the process
• Dedication to professional delivery and continuous improvement of the service

On the Electoral Administration Act 2006, the Minister stated that the detailed secondary legislation made under it are important pieces of legislation that will help us fulfil all three elements stated. Going to the core of a healthy democracy, the Minister went on to say that to encourage participation and accessibility of the voting process, the Act includes a range of measures. These include:

• a new responsibility requiring Electoral Registration Officers to maximise registration rates
• a requirement to conduct regular reviews of polling stations to ensure accessibility
• providing for anonymous registration, and
• establishing the Participation Fund to support innovative means of drawing in electors.

The new duties on EROs were effective for the annual canvass exercise last autumn. Just in the last few days, the collated electoral registration statistics from the 1 December statutory publication of the register have been released by the Office for National Statistics. And, pleasingly, we have seen the names on the electoral register increase by half a million. A fantastic start. And the number of attainers registered has also increased by 7%. Much has been achieved and we must build on this momentum.

Contrary to what some may have claimed, there has been no complacency by the Government with regard to maintaining the integrity of elections. The Act includes a range of measures to help both: a) deter fraud; and b) detect and prosecute any fraud that is attempted. These measures include particularly:

• the creation of clear new offences in relation to false registration or application for an absent vote;
• a proper regime to have accredited individuals and organisations observe election processes;
• allowing more time for police investigations, and, of course,
• the use of additional personal identifiers by postal voters at elections.

The Government fully acknowledges that the new Act places new obligations on administrators. The DCA has therefore provided an additional £21m, through the Revenue Support Grant, to ensure that Local Authorities can fulfil their obligations. It is essential that this funding then gets to electoral service staff, so that they can fulfil their new duties to the best of their ability.

Significant and additional money is being provided specifically to ensure that the implementation of postal vote identifier collection and checking goes as smoothly.

The Act will help us achieve a successful electoral administration service. It will lead to an increase in engagement, a building of confidence in integrity and the delivery of a high quality public service. She is also expected to say that the programme of change and improvement to electoral administration goes well beyond the Act. There is a great deal of other good work going on.

To increase participation, during 2006, we provided funding to seven local authorities with the specific aim of increasing levels of voter registration. We have been particularly keen to support activities which target groups that are traditionally 'harder to reach'. For example, young people and ethnic minorities.

A number of pilots has been run as part of the modernisation programme. And there are more planned. Pilots on additional channels of voting, alternative voting locations, and voting on additional days have all proved particularly useful identifying ways of increasing accessibility for electors.

Responding to questions, the Minister agreed to investigate a suggestion that an earlier postal vote receipt time other than close of poll would be beneficial to the process but might be considered undemocratic.

She also agreed to liaise with her officials over the significant concerns expressed by administrators on the personal identifier collection and checking process. The Minister would not confirm any further commitment towards individual registration.

Qualifications Awards

Members who received their certificates with Sam Younger, Chairman of the Electoral Commission, and John Turner, Chairman and Chief Executive of the AEA.

Individual Pictures

Click on each picture to view a larger version

Presentation Notes

Slides and handout material from various presentations and workshops can be viewed or downloaded by clicking on the relevant item(s) below.

Polling place and polling district reviews and access arrangements

Annual Declarations including Anonymous Registration - Slides

Annual Declarations including Anonymous Registration - Notes

Overseas Declaration - 15 year case study

Absent Voting

How much electoral fraud is there in the UK? (Word version)

Being sociable

The North West Branch seem to think they're here to enjoy themselves!

Annual Quiz

Once again, Steve Taylor, from Sunderland City Council, produced an excellent quiz for Tuesday evening, interspersed with the ever-popular stand-up Bingo. The eventual winners of the magnificent quiz trophy were "The Meatballers", consisting of Rose Hignett (Congleton), Sandra Hobbs (Macclesfield), Ann Watkins (Broadland) and Roger Davies (retired); they amassed a creditable 79 points. Runners-up were "Back, Crack and Sack", team members being Neil Middlehurst and Dave Cookson (both Sefton), Steve Barker (Liverpool) and Martin Hughes (retired); they received a bottle of champagne each. Well done to everyone, and Steve Taylor has kindly sent me the quiz, which, if you wish to, you can view or download by clicking here.