Researchers examined use of the internet by political parties, pressure groups, new social movements and protest/campaign networks. While not producing radical change, technology was bringing in some younger people who were not previously politically engaged, and allowing those already involved to debate issues more deeply.
Source: R. Gibson and S. Ward, Participation, Political Organisations and the Impact of the Internet, Economic and Social Research Council (01793 413000)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf)
Date: 2003-Dec
Researchers explored the relationship between balance of funding and turnout in local government elections - and in particular the suggestion that a lack of fiscal discretion for local councils was one factor explaining public indifference to local elections. They found little or no strong evidence for a relationship of the kind sought.
Source: Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher, The Relationship between Balance of Funding and Turnout in Local Government Elections, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (0870 1226 236)
Links: Report (pdf) | Tables (pdf)
Date: 2003-Dec
A report described the results of a survey of 20,000 people that set out to investigate levels of individual expectation of, and obligation, to the state; the extent and types of individual participation; levels of trust among individuals; levels of individual identification with, and integration in, different communities; and levels of individual satisfaction with democratic institutions and policy outcomes.
Source: Patrick Seyd and Charles Pattie, A Citizen Audit for Britain, Economic and Social Research Council (01793 413000)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2003-Nov
The government announced that all votes would be cast by postal ballot at the 2004 referendums for elected regional assemblies.
Source: Press release 22 October 2003, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (020 7944 3000)
Links: ODPM press release | Guardian report
Date: 2003-Oct
A research report explored public attitudes towards voting in the 2004 elections (for the European Parliament and London's Mayor and Assembly) and considered what might motivate people to vote. It said the main obstacle to mobilising the electorate to participate in 2004 would be a general, deep-rooted and widespread scepticism about the impact of voting.
Source: Public Opinion and the 2004 Elections, Electoral Commission (020 7271 0500)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf)
Date: 2003-Sep
The government said that it agreed with the recommendation of the Electoral Commission that there should be a statutory presumption that all local elections be run as all-postal ballots, unless there were compelling reasons why an all-postal ballot would be inappropriate or disadvantageous for a group or groups of electors. It also began consultation, and introduced a Bill, on electoral pilots (involving postal and electronic voting) during combined European Parliament and local authority elections in 2004.
Source: The Government s Response to the Electoral Commission s Report: The Shape of Elections to Come A Strategic Evaluation of the 2003 Electoral Pilot Schemes, Cm 5975, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, TSO (0870 600 5522) | Electoral Pilots at the C.E.P and Local Elections: Consultation paper, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (0870 1226 236) | European Parliamentary and Local Elections (Pilots) Bill, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, TSO | House of Commons Hansard, Written Ministerial Statement 17 September 2003, columns 51-52WS, TSO
Links: Response (pdf) | Electoral Commission report (pdf) | Pilot consultation paper (pdf) | Text of Bill | Hansard | LGA press release | Electoral Commission press release (1) | Electoral Commission press release (2)
Date: 2003-Sep
Researchers found that black and ethnic minority voters were more actively involved in political life than had been assumed, but their involvement was largely in single-issue campaigns rather than formal party politics.
Source: John Solomos, Michael Keith, Les Back and Kalbir Shukra, Democratic Governance and Ethnic Minority Political Participation in Contemporary Britain, Economic and Social Research Council (01793 413000)
Links: ESRC press release
Date: 2003-Sep
A research report said that the internet was starting to open up politics to young people - and it could help to engage more of them with the political process. While only 11 per cent of those aged 45-54 with access to the internet had visited a political or campaigning website, signed an e-petition or joined a political chatroom, the figure rose to 30 per cent among young people (aged 15-24).
Source: Rachel Gibson, Stephen Ward and Wainer Lusoli, Participation, Political Organisations and the Impact of the Internet, Economic and Social Research Council (01793 413000)
Links: ESRC press release
Date: 2003-Sep
The Electoral Commission began consultation on whether the minimum voting age in elections should be reduced to 16.
Source: How Old is Old Enough?: The minimum age of voting and candidacy in UK elections, Electoral Commission (020 7271 0500)
Links: Consultation document (pdf) | Electoral Commission press release
Date: 2003-Jul
The Electoral Commission said that all-postal voting should be made the norm for all local elections throughout Great Britain, following its evaluation of voting trials at the May 2003 local elections in England. But it also concluded that further piloting of electronic voting was essential before setting a date for an 'e-enabled' general election.
Source: The Shape of Elections to Come: Strategic evaluation of the 2003 electoral pilot schemes, Electoral Commission (020 7271 0500)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf) | Electoral Commission press release
Date: 2003-Jul
A report examined what young people aged 11-18 felt about politics and politicians, what issues concerned them, and what could be done to make them more engaged in the political process.
Source: Young People's Attitudes towards Politics, Nestl Family Monitor 16, Nestl UK Ltd (020 8686 3333)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2003-Jul
A report on the 2003 local election pilots dismissed the concept of voting by internet, telephone, digital television or text messaging as a means of raising turnout significantly. However, it said that all-postal ballots had succeeded in raising participation to acceptable levels.
Source: Piloting Alternative Voting Methods in the 2003 Local Elections, Electoral Reform Society (020 7928 1622)
Links: Report | ERS press release
Date: 2003-Jun
The Electoral Commission called for radical reform of electoral law, including: individual registration, rather than registration by household, to enhance security; the introduction of a United Kingdom-wide electronic register, compiled locally, which would enable people to vote at any polling station; polling hours standardised at 7am-10pm to avoid confusion and maximise opportunities to vote; and measures promoting equal access to elections such as providing statutory forms in a variety of languages and formats.
Source: Voting for Change - An electoral law modernisation programme, Electoral Commission (020 7271 0500) | Equal Access to Democracy, Electoral Commission
Links: Voting for Change (pdf) | Equal Access (pdf) | Electoral Commission press release | Guardian report
Date: 2003-Jun
An analysis of the Scottish Parliament elections held in May 2003 showed that 57 per cent of those who abstained from voting did so in part because they did not trust politicians to keep their promises.
Source: John Curtice and Martin Boon, Scottish Elections Research, May-June 2003, Electoral Commission (020 7271 0500)
Links: Report (pdf) | Electoral Commission press release
Date: 2003-Jun
A research study examined the links between political participation, knowledge of information technology and the needs of older people. It concluded that the internet has a long way to go if it is to fulfil its potential as an empowering democratic tool.
Source: Melissa McCarthy, Past the Post: Older people and new technology, Hansard Society (020 7955 7459)
Links: Summary | Press release
Date: 2003-Mar
A briefing document examined the reasons for low participation by young women in public life, and gave practical examples of how their involvement could be encouraged.
Source: Turning Opinion into Action: Young women and participation, Young Women s Christian Association (01865 404215)
Links: No link
Date: 2003-Feb
The government asked the Electoral Commission to carry out a review of options for simplifying local elections in England. It will review the current cycle in which many councils are elected once every four years, although not all in the same year, while others have elections in three years out of four, or every two years. Any changes would be aimed at making the timing of elections clearer to electors.
Source: Press release 28.1.03, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (020 7944 3000)
Links: Press release
Date: 2003-Jan