Question

To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, if the Electoral Commission will postpone its proposals on (a) photo identification for voters and (b) limitations on the handling of postal ballots until after the introduction of individual electoral registration.

The Electoral Commission recommended in January 2014 that voters at polling stations in Great Britain should be required to show some form of identification; it has proposed that any scheme for voter identification should be in place not later than the scheduled 2019 elections, which would be after the introduction of individual electoral registration.

The Commission intends to consult on proposed changes to the current Code of Conduct for Campaigners to reflect the recommendation that campaigners should not handle completed absent vote applications or postal ballot packs. The Commission aims to have agreed any changes to the Code in time for them to have effect for the May 2015 UK Parliamentary general election, and has no plans to delay these changes.