Overview

This bill proposes significant electoral reforms in England, primarily aiming to simplify and standardize local elections. Key changes include switching to a "first past the post" system for various mayoral and assembly elections, holding all local elections on the same day, and abolishing the system of electing local councillors in stages.

Description

The Electoral Reform (Local Elections and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill makes several key changes:

• Mayoral and Assembly Elections: Introduces a "first past the post" system for electing mayors of local authorities and combined authorities, as well as members of the London Assembly. This replaces existing systems, which varied across different regions and bodies.
• London Assembly Reform: Abolishes the separate "London Members" of the London Assembly, reducing the assembly solely to constituency members elected by the first past the post system. It mandates a boundary review to create 25 new constituencies.
• Election Day Synchronization: Requires all local elections (including those for councillors, mayors, the London Assembly, and Police and Crime Commissioners) to be held on the same day, starting on 7 May 2020, with subsequent elections held every four years on the first Thursday in May.
• Local Councillor Elections: Abolishes the system of electing councillors by halves or thirds, ensuring that all councillors in each local authority are elected simultaneously.
• Police and Crime Commissioner Elections: Changes the voting system for Police and Crime Commissioners to a "first past the post" system.
• MPs and Local Office: Removes the disqualification of Members of Parliament from holding the office of Police and Crime Commissioner in England.
• Transitional Arrangements: The bill allows for transitional arrangements, potentially including suspending some elections in 2018 and 2019 and extending the terms of some elected officials until 2020.

Government Spending

The bill states that any expenditure incurred by a Minister of the Crown under the Act, and any increase in sums payable under other Acts attributable to this Act, will be paid out of money provided by Parliament. Specific figures are not provided within the bill text.

Groups Affected

• Voters: Will experience changes in the voting systems for mayoral and assembly elections and a unified election day for all local elections.
• Mayors and Assembly Members: Face changes to election procedures and possibly their term lengths due to transitional arrangements.
• Local Councillors: Will be subject to simultaneous elections for their entire council, rather than staggered elections.
• Police and Crime Commissioners: Will face changes to their election processes.
• Members of Parliament: Will no longer be barred from holding office as a Police and Crime Commissioner.
• Local Government Boundary Commission for England: Will be required to conduct a review of London Assembly constituencies.

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