Financing Electoral Management Body and Electoral Activity Costs in the United Kingdom

Electoral management in the United Kingdom is decentralised and largely delivered by local authorities with local government is a strong feature of governance and democracy. The national Electoral Commission was established in 2000 to provide advice and guidance on election administration and to regulate the financing of political parties.

Elections have historically been run by returning officers, who are appointed by local authorities. The organizational structure of local government varies enormously across the United Kingdom. There are 317 local authorities in England, across five different types (county, district, unitary, metropolitan and London boroughs), 22 unitary authorities in Wales, 32 unitary authorities in Scotland and 11 local authorities in Northern Ireland. The electoral cycle, electoral system and governance arrangements vary across all these bodies. Several organizations are involved in funding elections because of an increase in the number and type of elections held. The arrangements for funding elections are therefore complex.

This Brief discusses the financing of the electoral management body and the electoral activity in the United Kingdom. The Brief is part of the Financing Electoral Management and Electoral Activities project.