Dame Elan Closs Stephens DBE reflects on her ten years as Electoral Commissioner and how the electoral landscape and the work of the Commission in Wales has changed.
I joined the Electoral Commission as Commissioner for Wales in April 2017. It has truly been one of the most challenging and exhilarating times to be a Commissioner and reflects both the progress we have made on democratic reform in Wales, and the significant issues that risk undermining this progress.
A decade that reshaped elections in Wales
Back in 2017, The Wales Act had devolved responsibility for Senedd and local government elections to Wales. The Commission, represented by the Head of the Wales Team, Rhydian Thomas, and I agreed that it would be an anomaly for the monitoring and accountability of those elections to remain with the Speaker of the House of Commons. We sought cross party support and found it. The Senedd and Elections (Wales) Act 2020 made the Commission financially accountable for its work on devolved elections to the Senedd through a brand new Llywydd’s Committee. Rhydian and I had a vision, shared and actively supported by the Commission Board, that accountability should never be to the Government of the day, of whatever colour, but to a cross-party group under the Llywydd. I am glad to say that has worked well as a scrutiny committee under the then DPO David Rees and now under the DPO Kerry Ferguson. The Commission reports to the Committee on Welsh elections, submits its budget estimates for scrutiny and assesses pilot schemes on further electoral reforms.
I hope that this work can be strengthened within the Curriculum for Wales so that parents and teachers recognise that this work is about our democracy – not party politics.
The 2020 Act also extended the franchise for devolved elections to 16- and 17-year-olds and foreign nationals living in Wales. The Commission has expanded its work in response to these changes. There is a programme of work on democratic education; working with schools, educators and youth groups to produce resources, training and initiatives to improve provision across Wales. I hope that this work can be strengthened within the Curriculum for Wales so that parents and teachers recognise that this work is about our democracy – not party politics. The work is not confined to schools; the Commission tries to engage with young people wherever they are – in youth clubs, in Guides and Scouts and at outreach events. The whole Commission is now working on the changes to the franchise in England and Northern Ireland which extends the vote to 16-year-olds across the UK and to reserved elections in Wales.
More recently, the Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Act 2024 introduced automatic registration pilots and set up an Electoral Management Board for Wales. When I became a Commissioner in 2017, there was a fledgling voluntary Board of ROs and EROs which had met with no statutory powers, unlike Scotland. One of my first visits was to Falkirk to see the Scotland Electoral system and to work towards a strengthened Co-ordination Board for Wales. That Co-ordination Board worked well on a voluntary basis under the leadership of Colin Everett. The Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Act 2024 then conferred Electoral Management Board functions on the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru.
The Commission has also been asked for advice on what is an appropriate donation to a political party – an issue which has surfaced again recently.
Finally, as we saw at this year’s Senedd election, the Senedd Cymru Act 2024 increased the size of the Senedd, introduced a new proportional voting system and reformed Senedd constituencies. There is a statutory requirement to review this in this new Senedd. But there was also a requirement on us, in conjunction with the Senedd Commission, to explain the changes to the voting public through a public information campaign. Explaining our complex and multi-layered electoral system remains challenging, but increased turnout in May’s election is a promising sign that some of this messaging is cutting through.
Syniadau uchelgeisiol, awdurdodol a mentrus.
Ymunwch â ni i gyfrannu at wneud Cymru gwell.
Growing threats demand further action
On the wider canvass of the UK Commission Board, we have seen an ugly picture of disinformation, misogyny, hate, and, incredibly, the killings of sitting and retired MPs. Our Chief Executive, Vijay Rangarajan, who has come to us from a senior Foreign Office position, has prioritised this work. The Commission has been one of the very few UK public bodies that has had a substantial increase in its finances from the UK Government to look at mis and disinformation, candidate abuse and misogyny, deep fake AI and to strengthen its own cyber security, which it has done. We are working with the police, Ofcom, political parties and major social media companies, to tackle these issues collectively. Who knows how many potential Councillors and MPs and MSs we are losing because people don’t want to put their name forward as candidates for fear of what happens to them and their families.
It has been an honour to serve as Electoral Commissioner during a decade of significant change in Wales and across the UK.
The Commission has also been asked for advice on what is an appropriate donation to a political party – an issue which has surfaced again recently. The Board, under its brilliant and thoughtful Chairman, John Pullinger, has long campaigned for a thorough review of the whole Electoral system and the Acts underpinning it. There have been so many accretions over decades that the UK could do with a simplified, clearer body of Electoral Law. Unfortunately, no Government as yet has seen its way to give adequate Parliamentary time for such work.
Gofod i drafod, dadlau, ac ymchwilio.
Cefnogwch brif felin drafod annibynnol Cymru.
It has been an honour to serve as Electoral Commissioner during a decade of significant change in Wales and across the UK. Over that time, the Electoral Commission has strengthened its visibility and accountability in Wales. As I look ahead, a strong Electoral Commission is more important than ever.
Dame Elan Closs Stephens DBE is to step down as Electoral Commissioner for Wales at the end of her current term in March 2027, bringing a decade of service to a close. The Electoral Commission has begun recruiting her successor.
The Commission is seeking an independent, credible leader who can offer strategic direction and support to its work in Wales. Further information about the Electoral Commissioner for Wales role, including details of how to apply, is available on the Goodson Thomas website. Applications close at 5pm on Friday 30 October.
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