Meetings

NDM7881 Debate: Voter Inclusion

This page gives details of any meetings held which will, or did, discuss the matter, and includes links to the relevant Papers, Agendas and Minutes.

Note: Meeting Agenda can change at short notice. Particularly where future meeting dates are indicated more than a week in advance. Please check before planning to attend a Committee Meeting that the item you are interested in has not been moved.

Meeting: 09/11/2021 - Plenary (Item 7)

Debate: Voter Inclusion

NDM7818 - Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Welcomes the Welsh Government’s efforts to modernise electoral administration in Wales to ensure that people can vote and their votes are counted.

2. Notes the Welsh Government’s principles for Electoral Reform as set out in the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution’s written statement on 15 July 2021. 

3. Regrets the proposals by the UK Government to introduce voter ID and restrict access to postal and proxy voting, which will suppress voting and deny people in Wales their fundamental democratic rights. 

Written Statement: Framework for electoral reform – 15 July 2021

The following amendment has been tabled:

Amendment 1 - Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Delete all and replace with:

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Believes that elections in Wales should be free and fair.

2. Welcomes the UK Government’s election Bill and its provisions to strengthen the integrity of elections.

3. Notes that the introduction of voter ID has been backed by the Electoral Commission and that the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights has stated that its absence is a security risk.

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to work with the UK Government to improve the integrity of all elections held in Wales.

Minutes:

The item started at 17.31

Voting on the motion and amendments under this item was deferred until Voting Time.

NDM7818 - Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Welcomes the Welsh Government’s efforts to modernise electoral administration in Wales to ensure that people can vote and their votes are counted.

2. Notes the Welsh Government’s principles for Electoral Reform as set out in the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution’s written statement on 15 July 2021. 

3. Regrets the proposals by the UK Government to introduce voter ID and restrict access to postal and proxy voting, which will suppress voting and deny people in Wales their fundamental democratic rights. 

Written Statement: Framework for electoral reform – 15 July 2021

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 - Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Delete all and replace with:

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Believes that elections in Wales should be free and fair.

2. Welcomes the UK Government’s election Bill and its provisions to strengthen the integrity of elections.

3. Notes that the introduction of voter ID has been backed by the Electoral Commission and that the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights has stated that its absence is a security risk.

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to work with the UK Government to improve the integrity of all elections held in Wales.

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

15

0

39

54

Amendment 1 was not agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion:

NDM7818 - Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Welcomes the Welsh Government’s efforts to modernise electoral administration in Wales to ensure that people can vote and their votes are counted.

2. Notes the Welsh Government’s principles for Electoral Reform as set out in the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution’s written statement on 15 July 2021. 

3. Regrets the proposals by the UK Government to introduce voter ID and restrict access to postal and proxy voting, which will suppress voting and deny people in Wales their fundamental democratic rights. 

Written Statement: Framework for electoral reform – 15 July 2021

For

Abstain

Against

Total

40

0

14

54

The motion was agreed.