Question

To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, how the performance standards for electoral registration officers (EROs) for door-to-door canvassing of non-responders relates to and takes into account an ERO's compliance with the legal duty to conduct such canvassing.

The Commission’s performance standards focus on the way in which Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) carry out their statutory functions, with a view to ensuring that electoral registration services are delivered with the needs of electors in mind.

EROs are already subject to breach of official duty if they fail to comply with electoral law. It is open to anyone who believes that such an offence may have been committed to refer the matter to the police for investigation. In deciding whether to bring a prosecution the Crown Prosecution Service would consider all relevant circumstances, including the reasons for the alleged breach and whether a prosecution is in the public interest.

Where an ERO does not carry out their duties in full, the Commission’s priority is to take action to ensure that the ERO makes improvements to their performance in the discharge of their functions. In doing this, the Commission will consider all available options to determine a proportionate response, based on the facts of each particular case.