Below is an outline of the role and responsibilities of the Electoral Commission
The Electoral Commission is an independent body established by the UK Parliament in November 2000. The Commission reports directly to the UK Parliament through a committee chaired by the Speaker of the House of Commons, known as the Speaker's Committee.
The Electoral Commission has a number of statutory functions and powers in relation to elections including:
- setting and publishing performance standards for and collecting information on the costs of electoral services from Electoral Registration Officers, Returning Officers and referendum Counting Officers
- attending at certain election proceedings
- preparing and publishing a code of practice on the attendance at elections of representatives of the Commission, accredited observers and nominated members of accredited organisations, and managing a scheme for the accreditation of electoral observers
- promoting public awareness of electoral matters
- publishing reports on the administration of elections and referendums
- conducting reviews of the law and practice relating to elections and referendums
- giving advice and assistance to those involved in the electoral process, including political parties and electoral administrators
- being consulted by the UK government on proposals to amend electoral law
- being consulted on the allocation of party political broadcasts
- maintaining, monitoring and making available, for reasons of transparency, a register of political parties, and the registration of political party descriptions where parties wish to field candidates standing under the party name or a description other than "Independent" on the ballot paper
- maintaining, reviewing and publishing, for reasons of transparency, a register of donations made to registered political parties and others regulated by the legislation
- reviewing and publishing the annual statements of accounts of political parties
- reviewing and publishing the returns of campaign expenditure incurred by political parties in respect of their election campaign
- reviewing returns of donations and loans to and the expenditure by and on behalf of candidates and their agents
- receiving from Returning Officers copies of candidates' returns of election expenses.
Date Updated: 24/12/08