Show Notes
The government has introduced the Representation of the People Bill to lower the voting age to 16, change how electoral rules are enforced and – potentially – introduce new restrictions on political donations. But embedding new processes for registering to vote, changing how electoral rules are enforced, and ensuring there is clear information for 16- and 17-year-olds will all take time – and affect the work of the Electoral Commission, local authorities, schools, civil society groups and others in the run-up to the next general election.
So, what needs to happen after the Bill gets Royal Assent? How will the Bill change the remit of the Electoral Commission – and is the Commission prepared? What do local authorities need to do to get ready? What information will new voters need? And what needs to change culturally as well as administratively?
To discuss all this and more, the IfG brought together an expert panel, including:
Harriet Andrews, Director of The Politics Project
John Pullinger, Chair of the Electoral Commission
Prof. Alan Renwick, Director of the Constitution Unit at UCL
Clare Sim, Head of Member Support at the Association of Electoral Administrators (joining remotely)
The event was chaired by Dr Rebecca McKee, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
More from IfG Events
From hospitals to schools, policing and local government, the effects of Labour’s promised reforms to public services are now being felt. Waiting times for some NHS services have improved, absence from schools is falling, and knife crime and neighbourhood crime have both fallen. But despite these signs of improvement, a thorny set of problems across public services could threaten Andy Burnham’s own ambitious reform agenda.
This discussion was part of the Institute for Government's programme of events at the Conservative Party Conference 2026.
This discussion was part of the Institute for Government's programme of events at the Conservative Party Conference 2026.
This event took place at the Green Party Conference.
This discussion was part of the Institute for Government's programme of events at the Labour Party Conference.