, Local Government and Housing Committee
Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Well, I think it's fair because it happens at the moment. It's already part of the electoral registration system, and all we're doing—
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Could I just add—?
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Well, there is a specific provision for people not to be on the register but to have that anonymity, and in order to vote, you have to be on the register in some format, even if it's part of the anonymous register. So, I think it's perfectly reasonable for…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Those who are more vulnerable, who, basically, would indicate that they want to go on to the register anonymously, and, of course, we already have that occurring within the existing system, but if they notify the registration officer of that, then the system…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Listen, I think, definitely, and there's still a job of work in terms of precisely how it will operate, but in terms of, firstly, candidate statements and so on, so information about those that are participating within the election itself, but also the…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Sorry, yes.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
[Inaudible.]—on the point that you raise, and it's one that has been raised, I think, at every session that I've had the opportunity to discuss this. Of course, divergence isn't just in respect of things that we do; there is a certain amount of divergence…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Well, it's an interesting point. At this stage, the remuneration body being brought within the current framework is because it seems to be an efficient and a comprehensive way of taking that particular responsibility. But any other matter—I think that would…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
I'll bring Michael in on that, because I know that considerations have been of that in quite some detail.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
This is something that was given thought to very early on, and I think the view we came to—and I think it's reflected within the legislation—is that that would be inappropriate to do so. That would begin to, I think, whittle away at not only the perception of…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Well, it's not only supposed to be independent, I think it is and will be independent once it is actually established. I think it is the—. The appointment of the chair is coming from the commission, but of course the commission itself is appointed through…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Well, I think the accountability is going to be exactly through that, through that 2013 Act; it'll be through the reporting to the Senedd, the annual report that will be presented by the democracy and boundary commission. That will have to contain within it a…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Yes. Michael.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Well, I think the independence is built into the legislation itself. Firstly, it is independent of outside political organisations. It's ultimately accountable to the Senedd, through the report from the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru, which will…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Yes. It's something we're very, very alert to, ensuring that there is a smooth transition from the passing of the legislation and the empowerment that is necessary to also then the functioning of the new electoral management board and so on—so, the…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Thank you for that question. Of course, the issue of capacity, process, speed and so on is something that's very important with elections. To some extent, we're working backwards in terms of the Gould convention, where we want everything required to be in…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
I'll have them introduce themselves.
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill: Evidence Session
Of course. Thank you very much.
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill: Evidence Session
That's a very, very good point. Within the explanatory memorandum, of course, there is the Schedule that shows all the changes that are taking place. I think what is clear is that at some stage in the future, I think, to improve accessibility, there will need…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill: Evidence Session
Well, certainly we want it to be within a timescale that enables it to be in place for the 2026 elections. The Gould convention requires that that should take place at least six months prior to those elections.
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill: Evidence Session
I think it's about clarity, but—
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill: Evidence Session
Yes, certainly.
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill: Evidence Session
I think that would have to be an amendment or a change in—.
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill: Evidence Session
Sorry, could you ask that again?
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill: Evidence Session
I think it's just the importance of the regulations themselves in respect of third-party financing, and so on, and if there were to be changes to a code of practice, then it's the way in which that is actually considered and the status that it's given.
