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The Integrity of UK elections: electoral malpractice and the state of the electoral registers

Summary of the impact

The impact arises from research on electoral malpractice and electoral registration in the UK, carried out by Dr Stuart Wilks-Heeg, and which made a clear and identifiable contribution to public and parliamentary debate and to policy development. The research was published in the period April 2008 — March 2012 and the impact is identifiable from April 2008 onwards. The impact has been manifested in the influence of the research on national political debate, campaigning by a leading democracy pressure group in the UK, the work of the Electoral Commission and, ultimately in its contribution to bringing about legislative change.

Submitting Institution

University of Liverpool

Unit of Assessment

Social Work and Social Policy

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Studies In Human Society: Policy and Administration, Political Science

Informing Choice of Electoral System and Improving the Quality of Electoral Administration

Summary of the impact

Researchers in the Centre for Media, Elections and Participation (CEMaP) have improved the quality of electoral administration and enhanced the quality of understanding and debate about electoral systems in New Zealand. Following a transition from a First Past the Post to a Mixed Member Proportional System in 1996, New Zealand has become an electoral reform model of international interest and the country held a referendum in 2011 on whether to retain the new system. CEMaP research has had impacts on the NZ Electoral Commission, the general public and electoral system campaigners. The main impacts of the research have been:

  • improvements to electoral administration in recording official voting data in elections;
  • better understanding by the Electoral Commission of voter attitudes towards elections for more effective electoral administration;
  • improvements to information campaigns to increase public understanding of the mixed member proportional (MMP) electoral system and informing media debate during a national referendum;
  • informing a national review of the MMP system including to maintain thresholds on party electoral support necessary for admission to Parliament in the light of public concern about the potential of MMP to admit too many small parties.

Submitting Institution

University of Exeter

Unit of Assessment

Politics and International Studies

Summary Impact Type

Political

Research Subject Area(s)

Studies In Human Society: Policy and Administration, Political Science

Introducing a secure electronic voting system to the State of Victoria, Australia

Summary of the impact

Researchers at Surrey have designed a new voting system commissioned by the Victorian Electoral Commission, for use in their State election, based on our Prêt à Voter system.

It will be the world's first fully verifiable e-voting system. Surrey's work has had a direct impact on Australian voting public services and on public policy on e-voting. The system provides secure and verifiable electronic support for voting in Victoria's State elections. Benefits include accessibility for blind and vision impaired voters, for those with motor impairments, for those who cannot read English, and greater efficiency and reach for remote voters nationally and internationally.

Submitting Institution

University of Surrey

Unit of Assessment

Computer Science and Informatics

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Information and Computing Sciences: Data Format
Studies In Human Society: Policy and Administration, Political Science

Increased public and media awareness of voter behaviour at elections

Summary of the impact

Based on his acknowledged research expertise in the areas of voting behaviour, electoral systems and survey methodology, John Curtice was widely consulted by the media before and after the 2010 UK general election to provide expert predictions on the likely outcome and to explain the results. By engaging with a variety of non-academic audiences, he informed public debate and understanding, and influenced pre-election planning by the UK Civil Service. He also contributed to the election night coverage by the three major UK broadcasters by accurately predicting the final result based on exit poll data. This informed much of the election night coverage, particularly on the BBC.

Submitting Institution

University of Strathclyde

Unit of Assessment

Politics and International Studies

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Studies In Human Society: Political Science

Informing the Electoral Process and Party Strategy in Scottish Local Elections: Managing the Effects of Introducing the Single Transferable Vote

Summary of the impact

This research on party and voter behaviour in the 2012 Scottish Local Government elections influenced the understanding and behaviour of two audiences. First, it directly informed the Scottish Parliament's Local Government and Regeneration Committee's inquiry into the 2012 Scottish Local Government Elections, which recommended reforms to electoral law as well as other measures to enhance local democracy. Second, it made a distinct contribution to improving the understanding of the Single Transferable Vote (STV) electoral system among party agents and candidates. In particular, there is clear evidence that it informed the campaign strategy of some Scottish National Party candidates and agents.

Submitting Institution

Newcastle University

Unit of Assessment

Politics and International Studies

Summary Impact Type

Political

Research Subject Area(s)

Studies In Human Society: Political Science

Influencing legislation, informing debate and improving public understanding of the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act, 2011

Summary of the impact

A new procedure for defining UK Parliamentary constituencies was strongly influenced by research led and directed by Professor Ron Johnston of the University of Bristol. The Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act, 2011, created new rules for the redistribution of seats and also reduced the size of the House of Commons from 650 Members to 600. Throughout the proceedings, from initial meetings with the Conservative Party to completion of the legislation, Johnston was a key advisor to all three main political parties, civil servants, MPs (including a House of Commons Select Committee), the Boundary Commissions and members of the House of Lords (in whose debates his advice was cited on several occasions). He co-authored reports, gave oral evidence, and advised individuals. His expertise was called upon by the media during the debates on the Bill, to explain its intricacies and the many amendments. For this work, Johnston received the Political Studies Association's `Political Communicator of the Year' award in 2011.

Submitting Institution

University of Bristol

Unit of Assessment

Geography, Environmental Studies and Archaeology

Summary Impact Type

Political

Research Subject Area(s)

Studies In Human Society: Policy and Administration, Political Science
Law and Legal Studies: Law

British Local Elections Database: informing policy and ‘illuminating democracy’

Summary of the impact

The British Local Elections Database and accompanying research output comprise a unique national resource through which political parties, media organisations, official statistical sources, central and local government, and public affairs companies have been able to report on and analyse electoral trends. This has informed and impacted on political debate and policy-making, and in turn has led to an increased public understanding and awareness of how to benchmark and interpret election outcomes. The impact of the research peaked in reach and significance at the time of the 2010 general election, but is also apparent at the annual local elections and in the constant tracking of patterns of behaviour at local by-elections.

Submitting Institution

Plymouth University

Unit of Assessment

Geography, Environmental Studies and Archaeology

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Studies In Human Society: Political Science

Improving Public Understanding and Debate about Democratic Reform

Summary of the impact

Dr Alan Renwick's research has had a distinctive, timely, and invaluable impact on the development of British constitutional debate in recent years. It has improved the quality of public discussion of key electoral and other democratic reforms and strengthened evidence-based decision-making in parliament and government. The underpinning research on the causes and consequences of democratic reforms was conducted at the University of Reading and disseminated both to policy-makers and direct to the public. It helped frame the debates around the electoral reform referendum of 2011 and the Lords reform proposals of 2011-12. As the UK Political Studies Association has recognized, it is a model of what Politics departments should be striving to do.

Submitting Institution

University of Reading

Unit of Assessment

Politics and International Studies

Summary Impact Type

Political

Research Subject Area(s)

Studies In Human Society: Political Science

Elected bodies: promoting participation and representation

Summary of the impact

This case study encompasses research carried out within the participation and representation research group. It reflects a body of research on elected bodies at UK, devolved and local tiers, which has taken place within the School over the past twenty years. Among other things it has: provided the principal body of data collection and analysis on Scottish local elections; influenced debates on the (lack of) diversity of representatives, particularly women; and fed into debates about stimulating voting and enhancing political literacy. The research continues to develop and have an impact, for example with recent work on citizenship and political education and the role of public petitions in elected bodies.

Submitting Institution

University of Lincoln

Unit of Assessment

Politics and International Studies

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Studies In Human Society: Policy and Administration, Political Science

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