This report provides the Committee with an update on the 2023 Local Elections and the changes introduced by the Elections Act 2022, including the requirement for electors to produce photographic identification in order to vote.

The Committee considered a report on the 2023 local elections including information on the new requirement for photo identification in order to vote at a polling station and other forthcoming changes to elections including those introduced by the Elections Act 2022.

The report noted that the Borough Elections in 2023 had returned to their normal cycle of elections by thirds, following the all-out elections in 2022 after ward boundary changes.  On 4 May 2023, fifteen of the sixteen wards in Reading had elected one councillor and there had been a by-election in Park ward which had elected two councillors.  This had been the first time that electors had had to produce photographic identification in order to vote at the Polling Station, and the report set out how this requirement had been managed.  The data collected at polling stations indicated that 99.7% of voters in the Polling Station had been issued with a ballot paper and had produced one of the relevant forms of ID.  270 people had initially attended the polling station without the right ID, but 197 of these had returned during the day and been able to vote.  This left 73 people (0.3%) who had not come back to the polling station by the close of poll.

The report summarised other forthcoming changes relating to Police and Crime Commissioner Elections system, overseas voters, new parliamentary boundaries, postal vote applications and handling and EU Voting and candidacy rights changes.

Resolved –

          That the report be noted.