Question

To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Act 2024 on the work of the Electoral Commission.

The Commission regularly assesses the impact of legislation on its work, including the Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Act 2024. The Act makes a number of changes to electoral law in Wales, including the establishment of an Electoral Management Board, new provisions on voter registration, powers for a wider range of electoral innovation pilots, and alignment with legislation for reserved elections in some areas such as accessibility, undue influence, and notional expenditure.

The Commission has been working with the Welsh Government and the wider electoral community to ensure that changes to elections in Wales are delivered successfully. It will develop updated guidance and resources for electoral administrators, campaigners and voters to reflect the changes that are being introduced. The Commission also has a duty to evaluate any pilots that are held in Wales.