Blog: Friday 04th April 2025 - LLG Team

The Local Government Information Unit (LGIU) has warned that while the 2024 general election was well-managed, the resilience of electoral processes is "questionable", with staff consistently reporting time and resourcing problems.

In a report on last year's general election, the think tank also found that of the 259 electoral administrators surveyed, more than half (60%) had experienced or seen a team member endure abuse at the poll station.

The report found that elections staff do not have sufficient time or resources to deliver elections "without enduring intolerable stress".

The report also raised concerns about the resilience and capacity of the electoral services workforce, postal votes, intimidation, and abuse of staff.

According to the think tank, 94% of administrators raised the challenge of organising snap elections as a problem, and 86% complained about the statutory timetable.

Meanwhile, 87% described getting postal votes to electors on time as an issue, and a further 80% cited complex electoral law as problematic.

Funding woes were highlighted by 73% of respondents, while 72% voiced concern about recruiting polling station staff.

More than half of respondents reported that they or another member of their team had experienced abuse or harassment at the general election - and almost a third reported "disturbances" at polling stations, according to the report.

In light of the findings, the LGIU recommended that the election timetable be extended and standardised across elections to ensure that there is enough time to deliver elections at an acceptable standard while reducing the personal burdens on staff.

"In considering these changes, attention should also be paid to the question of returning postal votes and how this can be made to work better for overseas electors," the report said.

For information regarding election reform, I can thoroughly recommend the Association of Electoral Administrator's ‘AEA New Blueprint for a Modern Electoral Landscape'.  It highlights the fragmented nature of electoral legislation and makes recommendations for improved resilience and capacity in UK democracy. 

Dennis Hall

LLG Bulletin Editor