I might declare an interest here. Generally, elections are mostly paid for by the people in the area. Essex County Council paid £1 million for elections last year. I am pleased to hear about the £3,000. Presumably that is for each local authority. In Essex that would be an encouragement to vote. It...

I might declare an interest here. Generally, elections are mostly paid for by the people in the area. Essex County Council paid £1 million for elections last year. I am pleased to hear about the £3,000. Presumably that is for each local authority. In Essex that would be an encouragement to vote. It...

I thank the Minister for that, but I just wish that she had agreed with the proposal now and that it could have been added to the Bill. We might try to insert the provision in the Bill at a future stage but, for now, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment,...

I thank the Minister for that, but I just wish that she had agreed with the proposal now and that it could have been added to the Bill. We might try to insert the provision in the Bill at a future stage but, for now, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment,...

moved Amendment No. 117A:"Page 55, line 18, after ““list,”” insert—" ““(   )   a person registers for a postal vote before or during the election,”” The noble Lord said: This amendment would ensure that a marked list of those who had voted by post is made available and includes a record of all the provisions that are...

moved Amendment No. 117A:"Page 55, line 18, after ““list,”” insert—" ““(   )   a person registers for a postal vote before or during the election,”” The noble Lord said: This amendment would ensure that a marked list of those who had voted by post is made available and includes a record of all the provisions that are...

I thank the Minister for that reply. We have always suggested that there should be only two systems on one day; we were not trying to discuss the merits of any system. Even in somewhere like Essex, when we had the European elections, county council elections and parish council elections, there...

I thank the Minister for that reply. We have always suggested that there should be only two systems on one day; we were not trying to discuss the merits of any system. Even in somewhere like Essex, when we had the European elections, county council elections and parish council elections, there...

moved Amendment No. 114ZA:"After Clause 37, insert the following new clause—" ““SIMPLIFICATION OF VOTING SYSTEMS    In advising on electoral arrangements, the Electoral Commission must have regard to the importance of the process of voting being readily understandable to the electorate and, in particular, shall ensure that no more than two systems of...

moved Amendment No. 114ZA:"After Clause 37, insert the following new clause—" ““SIMPLIFICATION OF VOTING SYSTEMS    In advising on electoral arrangements, the Electoral Commission must have regard to the importance of the process of voting being readily understandable to the electorate and, in particular, shall ensure that no more than two systems of...

I thank the Minister for that answer, which we will read carefully. I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Clauses 47 and 48 agreed to. Clause 49 [Political party descriptions]:

I thank the Minister for that answer, which we will read carefully. I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Clauses 47 and 48 agreed to. Clause 49 [Political party descriptions]:

moved Amendment No. 117D:"After Clause 46, insert the following new clause—" ““CHALLENGING ELECTION RESULTS    The ongoing conduct of a police investigation into an election shall not prevent that election result being open to challenge by way of an election petition.”” The noble Lord said: This amendment would enable an election petition to go...

moved Amendment No. 117D:"After Clause 46, insert the following new clause—" ““CHALLENGING ELECTION RESULTS    The ongoing conduct of a police investigation into an election shall not prevent that election result being open to challenge by way of an election petition.”” The noble Lord said: This amendment would enable an election petition to go...

moved Amendment No. 119C:"Page 69, line 5, at beginning insert ““Following receipt of written notification by the Electoral Commission of the intended steps to be taken,””" The noble Lord said: This is rather small fry after our previous big discussion, which we are obviously going to continue. Amendment No. 120A, which is grouped with...

moved Amendment No. 119C:"Page 69, line 5, at beginning insert ““Following receipt of written notification by the Electoral Commission of the intended steps to be taken,””" The noble Lord said: This is rather small fry after our previous big discussion, which we are obviously going to continue. Amendment No. 120A, which is grouped with...

I thank the noble Lord, Lord Campbell-Savours, for his suggestion. We are having an interesting debate on this. In my career I have seen many EROs of all different sorts, shapes and sizes and I have seen them behave in different ways. They are a very worthy group of people. There is no doubt...

I thank the noble Lord, Lord Campbell-Savours, for his suggestion. We are having an interesting debate on this. In my career I have seen many EROs of all different sorts, shapes and sizes and I have seen them behave in different ways. They are a very worthy group of people. There is no doubt...

I absolutely agree. Having the county council elections on the same day as the general election last year meant that there was a better turnout for the county council elections. I want people to vote when they visit the polling station and not to be confused. I hear what the Minister has said....

I absolutely agree. Having the county council elections on the same day as the general election last year meant that there was a better turnout for the county council elections. I want people to vote when they visit the polling station and not to be confused. I hear what the Minister has said....

The Minister has just more or less agreed with what I was suggesting, so surely it would have been simpler, as there is plenty of other detail in the Bill, to have included this little bit to make clear that the provision is going to happen.

The Minister has just more or less agreed with what I was suggesting, so surely it would have been simpler, as there is plenty of other detail in the Bill, to have included this little bit to make clear that the provision is going to happen.

Amendment No. 118A is grouped with the amendment that the noble Lord, Lord Rennard, has just moved. Ours is much more modest, but it would leave out the most restrictive element of the clause. As the Bill stands, no more than five candidates will be able to list their names on the...

Amendment No. 118A is grouped with the amendment that the noble Lord, Lord Rennard, has just moved. Ours is much more modest, but it would leave out the most restrictive element of the clause. As the Bill stands, no more than five candidates will be able to list their names on the...